Tort
- Article 6:162 of the Dutch Civil Code
- Property damage and personal injury
- Including a brief moment of inattention
- Applies at home, around the house and out and about
Article 6:162 DCC · family cover · not compulsory
Why you need liability insurance in the Netherlands
Personal liability insurance covers damage you cause to others in your private life. It is not compulsory by law, but the amount you pay yourself without insurance has no upper limit.
- several insurers compared objectively
- 9.5 customer rating for a new policy
- AFM licence 12016589
- Personal 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 9–17
Deze pagina in het Nederlands: Waarom u in Nederland een aansprakelijkheidsverzekering nodig heeft.
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 situation
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
Anyone who causes damage to another must make it good. That is set out in Article 6:162 of the Dutch Civil Code: anyone who acts unlawfully and is at fault is liable for the consequences. A glass of red wine spilled on a parquet floor is annoying; a cyclist who falls because you open your car door and cannot work for months is another matter. The law sets no maximum on what you have to pay: injury claims with permanent loss of income run up to amounts far beyond the means of an average household.
The personal liability insurance (AVP) takes over that risk. It covers not only your own mistakes, but also the liability the law places on you without fault: as the possessor of a building (Article 6:174 of the Dutch Civil Code) and as the possessor of an animal (Article 6:179 of the Dutch Civil Code). If a roof tile falls from your home onto a parked car, or your dog bites a passer-by, you are liable even though you are not at fault at all.
A family policy insures all family members living at home, including children, and usually house guests and babysitters during their stay with you. For children under fourteen, the parents are also liable for the damage they cause. In the Netherlands the AVP is not compulsory but it is usual: by far the most households have one. See also whether liability insurance is compulsory.
Where the liability comes from
The AVP covers three kinds of liability arising from private life.
Possessor of a structure
Strict liability for defects in the building you own.
- Article 6:174 of the Dutch Civil Code
- Loose roof tiles, facade elements, a balcony
- Even where you are not at fault
- Let property usually falls outside it
People you live with, children and animals
One policy for the whole household, including pets.
- Article 6:179 DCC for animals
- Children living at home and children studying away
- House guests and babysitters during their stay
- Check cover on separation or when a child moves out
What is covered
| Situation | Single | Family |
|---|---|---|
| You knock over a television at a friend's house | Yes | Yes |
| Your child breaks the neighbours' window | No | Yes |
| Your dog bites a passer-by | Yes | Yes |
| A house guest causes damage to a third party at your home | Provided that | Provided that |
| Damage to a borrowed trailer you were using yourself | No | No |
| A collision with your car | No | No |
What is actually covered, including exclusions, the sum insured and the excess, is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) you receive before you take out cover.
What you need to know in advance
Four points that determine whether the policy does what you expect in your situation.
What is expressly not covered
The AVP is a personal policy. Not covered are: damage to your own belongings, damage you cause in the course of a profession or business, and damage caused with a motor vehicle — that runs through the compulsory third-party insurance under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM). In addition, intent and recklessness excluded under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code, and the policy does not pay fines or financial penalties; those are personal and not insurable.
The care, custody and control clause: borrowed is not covered
Virtually every AVP excludes damage to property you had in your care: borrowed, hired, held for safekeeping or being worked on. If you drop your neighbour's drill or damage the holiday home you rented, the AVP does not pay. Some policies make a limited exception, for example for tenant's liability for fire and water damage to a rented home or for a place where you are staying. Read that passage before you borrow anything.
For expats and newcomers
In the Netherlands an AVP is not compulsory, unlike health insurance and third-party motor insurance. Even so, the vast majority of households have one, and landlords and schools regularly ask about it. Importantly, your liability is assessed under Dutch law, whatever your nationality or how long you have been here. A policy from your country of origin often does not cover damage in the Netherlands, or only during short trips.
Reporting and cooperating
Report a claim as soon as reasonably possible; that is required by Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code requires. Do not admit liability and make no undertaking about payment: the insurer assesses whether you are liable in law and conducts the defence if you are not. When taking out the policy, state your household composition and any particular circumstances correctly; the duty of disclosure under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code applies here too, and a breach can reduce the payment (Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code).
What does your premium depend on?
- Household composition — a single-person or multi-person household
- Sum insured — a higher amount, a higher premium
- Excess — often optional
- Area of cover — Europe or worldwide
- Risks included — voluntary work, babysitting, house guests
- Package discount — combining with home contents or buildings cover
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 liability insurance compulsory in the Netherlands?
No. Unlike health insurance and third-party insurance for a motor vehicle, the AVP is voluntary. It is very usual, though, and landlords, sports clubs and schools sometimes ask about it. Without insurance you pay the loss from your own resources, and where there is injury with permanent loss of income that amount can run very high.
Are my children covered as well?
On a family policy, yes. Children living at home are covered, and children studying away from home usually are too, as long as they are unmarried and in full-time education. For children under fourteen the parents are liable in law for the damage they cause; many policies even cover that damage where the child acted deliberately. Above that age stricter rules apply.
Is a house guest at my home insured?
Often yes, but not always in the same way. Many policies cover the liability of house guests and babysitters during their stay with you, provided they do not have liability insurance of their own that covers the damage. Damage the guest causes to your own belongings is not included: that is damage to the policyholder's own property.
Does the AVP cover damage I cause with my car?
No. Compulsory third-party insurance applies to motor vehicles under Article 2 of the WAM; that cover runs through your motor policy. The AVP excludes motor vehicles. There are exceptions: damage as a passenger, with an ordinary bicycle or often with an electric bicycle up to 25 km/h usually falls under the AVP. For a speed pedelec the WAM applies again.
I caused damage during my work. What now?
Then it is not a matter for the AVP. Damage in the practice of a profession or business is excluded. If you are an employee, your employer in principle carries the liability, unless there was intent or wilful recklessness. If you work as a self-employed professional, you need public and employers' liability insurance; the AVP does not cover your business risk.
Why does the insurer not pay for borrowed items?
Because of the care, custody and control clause. Property in your care — borrowed, hired, held for safekeeping or being worked on — is excluded, because the insurer does not want to carry a risk you controlled yourself. If you do want to cover that risk, check whether your policy has tenant's liability or an exception for places where you stay, or insure the item separately.
Read more
Within Aansprakelijkheidsverzekering
- Aansprakelijkheidsverzekeringthe main page
- Waarom een aansprakelijkheidsverzekering nederland essentieel is voor jou
- Aansprakelijkheidsverzekering aansprakelijkheid en overige varia
- Klaverblad aansprakelijkheidsverzekering
- How liability insurance protects you against risks
- Waarom een aansprakelijkheidsverzekering voor expats in nederland essentieel is
- Wat zit er in een wa verzekering
Similar pages
- Why liability insurance is essential in the Netherlands
- Liability insurance through Klaverblad
- Liability and other miscellaneous risks: which cover belongs where?
- Personal liability insurance (AVP) through Turien & Co — compare & calculate your premium
- Compare personal liability insurance (AVP)
- Personal liability insurance (AVP) through OOM Verzekeringen
- How liability insurance protects you against risks
- Why liability insurance is essential for expats in the Netherlands
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Would you like us to work out what you need?
Request a quotation without obligation; we compare the sum insured, the territorial scope and the exclusions that really matter.
Prefer to call? 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 09:00–17:00.
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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.