Three Dutch policies are easy to confuse: AVP covers many situations where you are legally liable for damage to somebody else, inboedelverzekering covers your movable belongings, and opstalverzekering covers the building itself. They solve different problems.

AVP is not car WA

An aansprakelijkheidsverzekering voor particulieren (AVP) is private personal-liability insurance. It is not legally compulsory. The motor-vehicle WA insurance required by the WAM is a different policy. Motor-vehicle liability is normally outside AVP cover.

The Verbond van Verzekeraars also confirms this distinction in its 2026 fatbike guidance: a compliant ordinary e-bike can fall within AVP liability cover, while motor vehicles such as cars, mopeds and speed-pedelecs require their own WA regime.

Who is insured under an AVP?

Household definitions differ. A policy may cover a single person, partners, children, people living away for study, domestic staff or pets in different ways. Do not assume that a partner or adult child is insured simply because they share an address. Check the exact insured-person definition.

Renter: what to think about

  • Inboedel: your furniture, electronics, clothing and other movable possessions.
  • AVP: accidental liability to others, subject to policy conditions.
  • Tenant improvements / huurdersbelang: fitted improvements you paid for can need specific contents/home wording.
  • Glass: can sit in a landlord policy, home policy or separate module; check the tenancy agreement and policy.

Your landlord’s building insurance normally protects the landlord’s building interest, not automatically all of your belongings. Likewise, your contents insurer does not become the landlord’s building insurer.

Homeowner: opstal versus inboedel

Rijksoverheid states that mortgage lenders generally require an opstalverzekering against risks such as fire and storm. This covers the house itself rather than the contents. If you own an apartment, the building is commonly insured through the VvE; check the VvE policy, excess and whether improvements inside your apartment need extra cover.

Tell the insurer when the risk changes

Long vacancy, major renovation, short-term letting, taking in paying guests, running a business from home or structurally storing high-value items can change cover. Rijksoverheid specifically warns owners who start renting out a home that building and liability insurance can change. Notify the insurer rather than discovering an exclusion after a loss.

How to compare a home policy

  • Named-perils versus broader/all-risk style cover.
  • Storm, leakage, sewer/water and flood wording.
  • Theft requirements and lock/security conditions.
  • New-for-old versus depreciation rules for contents.
  • Maximums for jewellery, electronics, bicycles and cash.
  • Cover outside the home and worldwide.
  • Own-risk/excess per event.
  • Temporary accommodation and emergency repair cover.
  • Underinsurance guarantee / valuation method.

If damage happens

  1. Make the situation safe and prevent further damage where reasonably possible.
  2. Photograph/video the scene and damaged property before disposal or repair.
  3. Report theft, burglary or deliberate damage to police when appropriate and keep the report reference.
  4. Contact the insurer before non-emergency permanent repairs; some insurers use their own repair network.
  5. Keep invoices, receipts, serial numbers and correspondence.
  6. For liability claims, describe the facts accurately and let the insurer assess legal liability rather than promising payment yourself.

Useful source types