Which Insurance Do You Need When Moving to the Netherlands?

Short answer: this is what you need

If you are new to the Netherlands, there are two insurances the law truly requires: health insurance (basic cover) and – once you have registered a car in your name – WA car insurance. All other damage insurances, such as liability (AVP), contents, buildings, travel and legal expenses, are in principle voluntary. Nevertheless, it is very common in the Netherlands to have at least liability and contents insurance, because an accident or damage without cover can quickly run into thousands of euros. With an overview of what is mandatory, sensible and situational, you can make the right choices without stress.

This article is purely informative: we explain which insurances are typical for newcomers and what the main points of attention are. PolisMoment itself does not give advice and does not mediate policies. If you later want an in-depth check of your damage insurances, you can start the free check without obligation. You will find more on that in the checklist and at the CTA at the bottom.

Mandatory, sensible or dependent on your situation

To get you up to speed quickly, we have listed the main damage insurances. The table below shows for each insurance whether it is compulsory, whether it is sensible to take it out, or whether it strongly depends on your personal circumstances. Use this overview as a first compass, not as advice that fits everyone.

Especially liability (AVP) and contents are insurances many newcomers overlook. Because damage from fire or an accident to someone else can quickly cost thousands of euros, taking these out in your first month is a sensible step. Comparing commission-free car insurance is also essential as soon as you put a car in your name.

Damage insurances you might forget

Apart from the standard AVP and contents, there are a few matters expats often discover later. These are not compulsory policies, but risks that work slightly differently in the Netherlands than in other countries. Think about liability if you cause an accident as a cyclist – in the Netherlands you cycle a lot and fast, and a collision with an expensive e-bike or personal injury may not be covered by your AVP? Usually it is, but check that your policy fully covers damage caused with a bicycle.

• Liability for damage to your rental home: small damage to walls, floors or kitchen appliances can be for your own account if it is not normal wear and tear. An AVP or specific tenant's liability coverage helps.
• Contents outside the home: not every contents insurance covers belongings you take on a trip or to work. Check whether you need an extra module for this.
• Travel insurance cancellation: are you booking an expensive holiday soon? Even an annual travel insurance often only covers cancellation if you had the policy before booking.
• Legal expenses for rental disputes: disputes about your tenancy contract, maintenance or deposit can drag on. A legal expenses insurance with the housing module can provide legal help.

Do you want to compare these insurances calmly? PolisMoment’s free damage insurance check looks at your entire package and flags gaps or unnecessary overlaps. Read how the free damage insurance check works to see what to expect.

Checklist for your first month

In your first weeks in the Netherlands, there are a few steps that give you immediate peace of mind. Follow this order – they are doable actions you can complete within a few days, without having to arrange everything at once.

After this first month you have the basics in order. Want to be sure you are not paying too much or that there are no gaps in your cover? Then do the no-obligation damage insurance check. You receive an in-depth advice that you can consider yourself – without having to switch immediately.

What you don’t need to arrange yet

Not every insurance is necessary right away. Buildings insurance, for example, is only relevant if you have bought a house. As long as you rent, the landlord takes care of the property. It can be useful to check your tenancy contract for any obligations to have certain insurances, but that is separate from the law.

A travel insurance is often unnecessary in the first weeks: you have just found a place and probably aren’t traveling straight away. Legal expenses is equally not acutely urgent, unless you are already in a dispute. And all sorts of extra modules such as bicycle insurance, breakdown cover or extensive outside-home coverage can be added later once you have a better feel for your situation.

• Buildings insurance: only for your own home. Save for later.
• Travel insurance: take out only when you book a trip or start travelling a lot.
• Legal expenses: unless there is an urgent dispute, wait until you know exactly which module you need (housing, work, traffic).
• Extensive modules on contents/liability: start with basic cover; expanding can happen later.

When is a check or advice useful?

You now have a good overview, but if you really want to be sure you are not paying too much or that your cover fits your specific expat situation, then an objective second opinion is valuable. PolisMoment offers that possibility via a free damage insurance check: you provide your details once and one independent, commission-free advisory office takes an in-depth look at premium, cover and deductible. No resale, no telephone sales pressure and completely non-binding.

The check is especially useful for newcomers who do not yet know exactly how the Dutch insurance market works or who, for example, are unsure whether their foreign claim-free years are properly valued. Even if you have moved a few times and no longer know whether your contents value is still correct, a check can help prevent underinsurance. Read how the free damage insurance check works so you are prepared.