Buildings
- Fire, explosion and lightning strike
- Storm, hail and rainfall
- Damage to the premises from forced entry
- Collision and aircraft
Business buildings insurance (opstalverzekering): effective protection for your business premises
A policy only really protects your premises if the details on it are correct and you comply with the prevention conditions. This page shows where that comes unstuck.
- several insurers compared objectively
- 9.5 customer rating for a new policy
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This page in another language: Nederlands
Work out for yourself what it would cost.
Enter your details; you will receive a proposal within one working day.
- We compare the offerings of several insurers
- An adviser checks whether the cover suits your activities
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
- Independent advice
- Several insurers
- Switching arranged
- Help with claims
In brief
Commercial buildings insurance covers the building in which you do business: structure, walls, roof, floors, fixed installations, canopies and paved areas. What you would take with you when moving is not included; machinery, racking and stock belong on business contents and goods insurance. If you rent the property, you do not insure the buildings but tenant's improvements: the fixtures you have installed in the rented premises yourself.
Effective protection starts with two things that have nothing to do with cover but with the details on the policy. The first is the business activity: does the description of your activity still match what actually goes on in the premises. The second is the sum insured: does it still show the rebuild value of the premises as they stand today. Most large claims founder on those two points.
On top of that, insurers tie the cover to concrete prevention conditions: a valid electrical inspection, serviced extinguishers, certified security and sometimes fire compartmentation. Those appear as clauses on the policy and are not advice you can take or leave. See also business buildings insurance.
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What does the cover consist of?
The buildings cover, the consequential loss cover and the glass section are put together separately.
Business interruption
Continuing costs and lost turnover while you cannot use the premises.
- Fixed costs that continue
- The cost of replacement space
- An indemnity period you choose yourself
- Never automatically included
Clauses on the policy
Conditions the premises must meet to keep the cover in force.
- Inspection of the electrical installation
- Maintenance of extinguishers
- Security class of the locks
- Requirements for work with naked flames
What is covered
| Situation | Basic | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| Fire damage to the premises | Yes | Yes |
| Burglary damage to doors and frames | Yes | Yes |
| Water damage from a burst pipe | Provided that | Yes |
| Glass breakage without a glass section | No | No |
| A business shutdown after a covered loss | No | Provided that |
| Damage due to deferred maintenance | No | No |
The actual cover, with all exclusions, limits, clauses and excesses, is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart).
What does your premium depend on?
- Business activity and operations: what goes on in the premises
- Rebuild value: the basis on which the premium is calculated
- Construction type and roof covering: how combustible the materials are
- Level of prevention: inspections, extinguishers, alarm
- Excess: a higher amount reduces the premium
- Claims history: previous claims on the premises
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
How we arrange it
- You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, risk and wishes.
- We compareseveral insurers, on premium as well as conditions.
- You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
- We arrange the switchIncluding cancellation, so there is no gap in cover.
Why arrange it through Finass Verzekert?
We look at the terms as well as the premium, and stay your point of contact when there is a claim.
Independent
We are not tied to one insurer and compare on the basis of an objective analysis of several companies.
One fixed adviser
You call or email someone who knows your file. No menu options, no changing call centres.
Switching without hassle
We cancel your old policy and align the start date, so you are never a day without cover.
Help with claims
We report the claim and monitor how it is handled. In urgent cases you can reach us on the emergency line.
9.5New policy
9.8Claims handling
Customers rate our service on four aspects: personal service, service delivery, availability and the outcome. The reviews are collected and published by NH1816 and come from customers who have actually taken out a policy with Finass Advies B.V. or reported a claim.
Four points that determine your cover
A payment after a major loss stands or falls on these points.
The described activities must cover the actual use
A building that is office is insured but is in practice used as a workshop, store or production space leads to a dispute at claim stage. The insurer assessed the risk on different information and charged a different rate. Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code requires you to provide that information; where it is concealed, payment can be reduced or refused under Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code. Report every extension of your activities in writing and keep the confirmation.
Prevention conditions are conditions of cover
For business premises insurers set concrete requirements: periodic inspection of the electrical installation to NEN 3140, extinguishers serviced annually, locks and fittings to the prescribed class and sometimes a certified alarm. If it can be shown that you did not comply when a loss occurred, the insurer may reduce or refuse payment. Make sure inspection reports, service labels and alarm certificates can be produced and have not expired; that is the evidence a claim turns on.
What is not covered
Excluded from cover are, among other things business downtime without separate business interruption cover, subsidence and foundation damage, defects resulting from deferred maintenance and wear and tear, and construction and design faults. Damage caused by intent or recklessness on the part of the insured is excluded under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code. Gradual influences such as damp, corrosion and vermin fall outside it as well, as does damage connected with use that departs from the described activities.
Index and conversion work: the sum falls behind
The sum insured should follow the rebuild value be, not the book value or the WOZ value. Insurers apply an annual index for general building cost inflation, but that does not correct for your own alterations: an extension, an extra floor, a new installation or solar panels. If the sum falls behind, there is underinsurance and every claim is reduced proportionately. A valuation under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code takes that argument off the table for a set period.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
What does extra security do for the premium?
Security determines above all whether an insurer is willing to accept the risk, and only then the premium. For premises with attractive stock, a minimum security class often applies as a condition. If you exceed what is asked, a lower rate or a lower excess is open to discussion. More important is that the alarm is actually set at the moment of a break-in.
Is an electrical inspection compulsory?
By law, employers have a duty of care under the Dutch working conditions decree for safe work equipment. In insurance terms, periodic inspection of the electrical installation is often included as a clause for business premises. If a valid report is missing at the time of a fire with an electrical cause, the insurer can reduce payment. So schedule the inspection around the renewal date.
What if a fire starts during roof work?
Work with naked flames, such as torching or heat-welding on a roof, almost always has a clause of its own. Requirements include a written hot work permit, extinguishers within reach and a fire watch afterwards. If you have a contractor do the work, check that they comply with the conditions; the clause applies to work you subcontract as well.
Do I have to report a claim straight away?
Yes. Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code requires you to report a loss as soon as reasonably possible and to give the insurer the opportunity to assess it. Late notification that prejudices the insurer's interests can lead to loss of cover. So do not repair everything straight away, but record the situation first with photographs.
Can I choose the excess myself?
On commercial buildings policies you usually can, and the effect on the premium is greater than on private policies. Choose an amount you can comfortably bear yourself on a medium-sized claim. Note that some sections, such as glass or rainfall damage, have a different and sometimes higher excess than the main cover.
Every situation is different. For these situations we have a separate page.
- Buildings insurance (opstalverzekering) and commercial buildings insurance (gebouwenverzekering): the same or not?The main page
- Buildings and premises insurance for propertyRebuild value, loss of rent, glass
- Business buildings insurance (opstalverzekering): which version suits your premisesFire, extended, comprehensive
- Commercial buildings insurance (opstalverzekering) when letting your premisesLoss of rent, vacancy, tenant's improvements
- Compare commercial buildings insuranceRebuild value, construction, fire prevention
- Buildings insurance (opstalverzekering) for an industrial unitRebuild value, construction, prevention requirements
- Buildings insurance (opstalverzekering) for your business premisesIndustrial unit, trade description, business interruption
Read more
Would you like your policy and clauses checked?
Request a quote without obligation. We go through the described activities, the sum insured and the prevention conditions with you.
Prefer to call? 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 09:00–17:00.
Claim on the road? Emergency line 06 - 55 20 40 72.
About our service
Finass Verzekert is a trading name of Finass Advies B.V. We advise on and arrange non-life insurance on the basis of an objective analysis of several insurers, and receive commission for this from the insurer, which is included in the premium. You pay no separate advice fee. Before you take out cover, we establish your wishes and needs.
You will find our licence, KvK and Kifid details and our complaints procedure at the foot of every page.
This page was compiled by Finass Verzekert (LinkedIn). Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.