Is home contents insurance (inboedelverzekering) sensible?

Work it out for once

Walk through your home and add up what it would cost to buy everything again. Not what you paid, but the price today.

For an average family that quickly comes to more than forty thousand euros. Washing machine, fridge, sofa, beds, clothing, tools, garden furniture, crockery — it adds up faster than you think.

When it is worth it

With total loss through fire. That is rare, but the loss is then total and impossible to bear without insurance.

With water damage from above or a burst pipe, which happens considerably more often than fire.

With burglary, where it is not only what has gone that counts but also the damage to your home.

When you might consider going without

If you live with few belongings and could replace them without difficulty, choosing not to insure is a genuine option. That applies to a limited group.

For anyone with a furnished home, the premium does not outweigh the risk.

What you are best off doing

Insure on replacement value and update it periodically. Underinsurance means every claim is paid proportionately — small claims included.