Buildings insurance
- The basis is the rebuild value
- The roof structure and the outside walls weigh heavily
- Declare solar panels separately
- Report a vacancy to the insurer
Building · contents · storage
Insuring a warehouse
A warehouse calls for more than one policy: the building, the contents and the liability run separately. Below you can read how those parts fit together.
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- 9.5 customer rating for a new policy
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The calculator and the quote form below are in Dutch. Prefer to do this in English? Email info@finassverzekert.nl or call 072 - 509 24 56 and we will take it from there.
Work out your own premium with the calculator.
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.
In brief
Insuring a warehouse essentially involves three things. The building itself goes on a buildings or premises insurance policy, calculated on the rebuild value: what it costs to rebuild a similar building, excluding the land. The contents splits into business contents — racking, forklifts, equipment, installations — and goods, in other words stock and trading goods. And then there is the liability: as possessor of a defective building you are liable under Article 6:174 of the Dutch Civil Code for the damage that results, even without fault on your part.
The use of the warehouse determines whether an insurer is willing to carry the risk and on what terms. Storing timber, paper, plastics, tyres, batteries or hazardous substances weighs more heavily than storing metal or machinery. Insurers therefore almost always impose prevention clauses: requirements for locks and fastenings, for periodic inspection of the electrical installation, for no smoking and no charging of batteries indoors, for the distance between stored goods and the outside wall, and for clearing away waste and pallets. If such a clause is not complied with, the payment after a fire or a burglary can be reduced or refused.
If you store goods belonging to customers, the situation changes fundamentally. Those goods are not yours, and most commercial policies contain a care, custody and control exclusion: damage to property in your care is not covered on the liability insurance. Separate cover is needed for that, for example goods or bailee cover with its own sum insured. If you let the warehouse, you insure the building and the tenant looks after his own contents and goods; record that in the tenancy agreement.
Three policies around one building
The building, the contents and the liability run separately; only together do they cover the risk.
Business contents and goods
Covers racking, machinery and equipment, plus the stock in the warehouse.
- Business contents usually on replacement value as new
- Goods at cost price
- Report seasonal peaks in advance
- Refrigeration and freezer losses often separate
Liability and standstill
Absorbs damage to third parties and the loss of income after an incident.
- Possessor of the structure: Article 6:174 of the Dutch Civil Code
- Public and employers' liability for injury
- Business interruption during downtime
- Tenant's interest in a rented building
What is covered
| Situation | Buildings cover | Contents cover |
|---|---|---|
| Fire, storm and water damage | Yes | Yes |
| Burglary damage to doors, the roller shutter and the outside wall | Yes | No |
| Theft of stock or tools | No | Yes |
| Customers' goods in storage | No | Provided that |
| Solar panels on the roof | Provided that | No |
| Subsidence, leaks caused by deferred maintenance | No | No |
Which prevention clauses and sums insured apply in your case is set out on the policy schedule; those clauses take precedence over the general conditions.
Two points about a warehouse
With business premises a claim rarely founders on the cover and usually on prevention or on a change that was not reported.
Prevention clauses are part of the cover
Insurers almost always accept a warehouse subject to conditions. Recurring requirements are a periodic inspection of the electrical installation, certified locks and fittings and sometimes a monitored intruder alarm, the keeping of a clear strip along the outside wall free of stored goods and waste, separate storage of flammable substances and a ban on charging batteries outside a room equipped for it. You must be able to produce the inspection report; expired certificates are one of the most common reasons for a reduced payment. If the use of the warehouse changes, for example through different storage, subletting or a long vacancy, report it: the duty of disclosure under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code feeds through into the payment via Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code.
What falls outside the cover
Not covered is damage caused by wear and tear, deferred maintenance, subsidence and construction or material faults, and damage caused by gradually acting damp, corrosion, mould and vermin. Damage to property in your care — damage to third parties' goods that were in your care — is excluded as standard on public and employers' liability insurance and requires separate cover. Exclusions also apply to intent and recklessness (Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code), for flooding caused by the failure of a primary flood defence, for earthquake and for nuclear reactions and war risks. Business downtime after a fire does not fall under the premises or contents policy; a business interruption insurance policy is needed for that. And theft without signs of forced entry is normally refused on contents policies.
What does your premium depend on?
- Rebuild value of the premises — the basis of calculation for the building
- Construction type and roof structure — brick, steel or sandwich panels
- Nature of the goods stored — fire-prone or not
- Prevention measures — alarm, fire suppression, electrical inspection
- Location and adjoining properties — neighbouring buildings and water
- Sums insured and excess — business contents, goods, business interruption
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is why comparing pays off.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most often about this.
Is my stock insured on the premises insurance?
No. The premises insurance covers the building itself: structure, roof, outside walls, doors and fixtures and fittings. Business contents and trading goods fall under separate business contents and goods insurance, with their own sum insured. In a fire that affects both, two policies therefore respond, each with its own excess.
What if I store customers' goods?
Those goods are not yours, and public and employers' liability insurance normally contains a care, custody and control exclusion for property in your care. Separate cover is needed for that, for example for third parties' goods or bailment, with its own sum insured. Also set out in your terms of business up to what amount you accept liability.
What happens when the property is unoccupied?
A vacancy increases the risk of burglary, vandalism and arson. Almost every policy requires you to report a vacancy; if you do not, cover may be restricted to fire and storm or lapse entirely. Where a building stands empty, insurers often impose extra requirements, such as turning off the water and gas and checking the building regularly.
Do I insure a rented warehouse myself as well?
The owner insures the building. As tenant you insure your business contents and goods, and in addition the tenant's interest: the fittings you installed yourself, such as floors, partitions, office units or wiring. These do not automatically fall under the landlord's premises policy and must appear on your policy with their own amount.
Read more
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Warehouse, contents and liability arranged in one go?
Request a quote without obligation; we will check the rebuild value, the prevention requirements and the sums insured.
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 written and checked by an adviser at Finass Verzekert. Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.
