Storm damage to your fence or garden: how does Dutch insurance work?

When does your insurer consider it storm damage?

In the Netherlands, virtually all damage insurers use the same definition of a storm: wind force 7 or higher on the Beaufort scale. This equates to a wind speed of at least 50 kilometres per hour, measured over a period of at least one full hour. A single strong gust therefore does not count as a storm, even if it causes significant local damage. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) issues weather warnings via colour codes during severe storms, and insurers use official KNMI measurement data from the nearest weather station to determine whether a storm actually occurred at your location. In practice, this means that damage caused by an autumn storm with a code orange warning is almost always covered, while damage from a summer whirlwind without an official storm measurement often falls outside the scope of your cover.

In addition to wind force, insurers also look at the causal link: was the damage directly caused by the storm, or did poor maintenance play a role? A fence that had been rotting for years and collapses at the first strong gust is usually not compensated. The insurer can argue that the damage results from wear and tear or an inherent defect, rather than from exceptional weather conditions. This applies equally to fences and garden furniture as it does to roof tiles and other fixed parts of your home. It is therefore wise to maintain your garden and home properly and to periodically check for weak spots that could cause problems during the next storm.

Your fence: covered by buildings insurance (opstalverzekering)

A fence, pergola, or other garden boundary that is permanently fixed to the ground generally falls under your buildings insurance (opstalverzekering). This applies to both wooden fencing and brick garden walls. Buildings insurance covers storm damage to anything that is 'immovably attached' to your home and plot. The amount of compensation depends on the rebuild value or the market value, depending on your policy conditions. With a modern policy that includes a rebuild value guarantee, you receive the amount needed to have the fence rebuilt to the same standard. Older policies or those with a market value clause pay out less because depreciation is taken into account. It is wise to compare buildings insurance commission-free so that you know exactly what your policy covers and under which conditions.

Please note: buildings insurance only covers the fence itself. Any damage to plants growing against the fence, or to decorations hanging on it, falls under different cover or is not insured at all. Similarly, damage caused when a toppled fence falls onto your car or your neighbour's house is handled through other channels — such as your liability insurance or your neighbour's buildings insurance. The excess clause is also relevant: most buildings insurance policies carry an excess that varies per policy, often between €100 and €500. If the damage amount is lower than your excess, you will receive no payout at all.

Shared fence: how to split the costs with your neighbours

A shared fence — the boundary marker sitting exactly on the property line — often raises questions after storm damage about who should pay. Under the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek, Book 5, Article 49), both owners are each responsible for half of the maintenance and repair of a shared boundary fence, unless separate written agreements have been made. This means that for storm damage to a shared fence, you and your neighbour in principle split the repair costs equally. In practice, this usually goes through a single insurer: the insurer of the person who reports the damage first pays out the full amount (minus any excess), then recovers half from the neighbours or their insurer. This mechanism is called 'regresrecht' (right of recourse) and is a standard feature of most buildings insurance policies.

Things can of course be more complicated. Suppose the fence sits on the property line but was paid for and installed by just one neighbour — who then is the legal owner? Or suppose there is a disagreement about the quality of the repair: one neighbour wants a cheap fix, the other a full replacement. In such cases, it is wise to reach an agreement together before filing a claim. Good communication with your neighbours prevents an insurance matter from turning into a neighbour dispute. If you cannot reach an agreement together, a legal expenses insurance policy with the 'housing and neighbours' module can provide legal advice on cost allocation and your rights.

Loose garden items: covered by contents insurance (inboedelverzekering)

While a fence falls under buildings insurance, loose items in your garden belong under your contents insurance (inboedelverzekering). Think of garden furniture, a parasol, a barbecue, garden tools, or a party tent. Most contents insurance policies offer what is known as 'outside-the-home cover' for items located on your own property, such as in the garden, on the balcony, or in an unlocked shed. However, the cover is often lower than for items inside the home: where you might get full compensation based on new-for-old value indoors, outdoor items usually have a lower compensation limit or a cap per item. Always check the policy conditions of your contents insurance so you are not caught off guard when filing a storm claim.

• Garden furniture such as lounge sets, chairs and tables are often covered up to €2,500 per event under the outside-the-home cover of your contents insurance policy.
• An expensive barbecue or outdoor kitchen may fall under the valuables clause — you may need to declare such items separately to your insurer for full cover.
• Inflatable pools, trampolines and play equipment fall under contents cover, but storm damage to these items is explicitly excluded from cover under some policies.
• Electronics in the garden such as an outdoor TV or weatherproof speakers must be explicitly reported to your insurer in order to fall under the cover.
• Garden tools and lawnmowers are covered, but pay attention to the maximum amount per item and the excess that will be deducted from the claim payout.

An important point to remember: damage to loose items is only compensated if the storm was officially registered as such (wind force 7 or higher). If a summer gust blows your parasol over the fence, you are out of luck and will have to cover the costs yourself. Additionally, outdoor items almost always carry a depreciation clause: you receive the current market value, not the new-for-old replacement value, unless your policy explicitly states otherwise. This means that for a five-year-old lounge set, you may only get a fraction of the original purchase price back. Always keep your receipts and take regular photos of your garden setup so that you can prove ownership and condition in the event of a claim.

Plants and garden landscaping: an overlooked risk

Trees, shrubs, plants and flower borders are only covered to a limited extent or not at all by most insurers for storm damage. The reasoning is that plants are alive and therefore inherently vulnerable to weather influences — they are not a structural part of your home. A fallen tree that has not caused any damage to buildings is generally entirely at your own expense. The costs of having a fallen trunk removed and replanting a new tree can run into hundreds of euros, but your insurance rarely pays out for this. Some extended buildings insurance policies offer a limited 'garden cover' option, for example up to €500 or €1,000 per event, for restoring garden landscaping after a storm. However, this module is optional and not included as standard.

If you want to properly protect your valuable garden landscaping, it is advisable to check whether your insurer offers an additional garden insurance add-on. This is an optional module you can attach to your buildings insurance that explicitly covers plants, lawns, ponds, and other garden elements. The premium for such an add-on module is typically between €2 and €5 per month, depending on the size of your garden and the desired sum insured. For households with an expensive, landscaped garden featuring mature trees and exclusive planting, this can be a sensible investment that pays for itself at the first major storm. When comparing policies, specifically ask about this option and the exact terms and conditions that apply.

How to file a storm damage claim: step by step

After a storm, it is crucial to act quickly and in a structured manner. Insurers expect you to report damage within a reasonable timeframe — usually within 14 to 30 days after the storm, depending on your policy conditions. The sooner you report, the easier it is for the insurer to establish the link with the storm using KNMI data. Especially in the case of large-scale storm damage where the KNMI has officially recorded a storm, the claims process is often smoother because the cause is indisputable. If you are unsure whether your damage falls under storm cover or qualifies as water damage instead, report both possibilities to your insurer and let them assess which cover applies. Insurers are used to this overlap and can usually provide clarity quickly.

What if your claim is rejected?

It happens regularly that a storm damage claim is rejected, either in full or in part. The most common reasons are that the wind force was not high enough (no official storm according to KNMI measurements), that there was evidence of poor maintenance of the fence or garden features, or that the damage already existed before the storm. The insurer may also argue that the damage does not fall under the policy — for example, because you assumed something was covered by buildings insurance when it actually belongs under contents cover, or because it concerns an excluded category such as plants without an additional garden module. In all these cases, you have rights as a policyholder. You can object to the insurer's decision, commission an independent contra-expertise, or bring the case before the Dutch Financial Services Complaints Institute (KiFiD).

If your claim has been rejected, do not simply accept it without understanding the reasons in detail. Always ask the insurer in writing for a full, reasoned explanation of the rejection. Sometimes it turns out that the insurer made an error, that additional KNMI data is available confirming the storm, or that further explanation from your side can still support the claim. Also read our detailed guide on what to do when an insurance claim is rejected to understand exactly which steps you can take and what rights you have under Dutch law and the KiFiD procedure.