Why Dutch home contents insurance doesn't have to be complicated
Moving to the Netherlands comes with its fair share of paperwork headaches. Between DigiD setups, BSN registrations, and deciphering Dutch tax forms, the last thing you need is insurance that adds to the confusion. Yet traditional Dutch insurance often feels like another bureaucratic puzzle… until now.
The expat home contents insurance reality
If you're new here, you might assume that protecting your belongings works the same as back home, but that's not the case. Contents insurance (inboedel) and liability insurance (aansprakelijkheid) are not required in the Netherlands, and unlike in many other countries, your landlord can't force you to get them either.
You might think, "If I don't need it, why bother?" But here's the reality: unfortunate mishaps can strike at any time. In 2023 alone, over 928.000 bicycles were reported stolen nationwide, nearly 30% more than in 2021. Given that most expats rely on bikes, laptops, and portable valuables, the financial risk is very real.
Here's where many expats get caught off guard: traditional Dutch insurers make getting coverage unnecessarily complicated. Lengthy phone calls in Dutch, complicated sign-ups, and policies written in confusing language that even natives struggle with. There has to be a better way…
Enter Lemonade: Contents insurance made easy
That better way is Lemonade. This tech-driven insurance company built something refreshingly simple: contents insurance you can get in under 90 seconds, entirely online, in English.
Traditional Dutch insurers treat your expat lifestyle as a complication that requires lengthy paperwork. Lemonade treats it as normal. Need coverage that starts the next day? Done. Want to file a claim from your phone? Simple. Coverage that works whether you're in student housing or your own apartment? Standard.
What makes Lemonade different
So, what is it that makes Lemonade different from other insurance companies?
Lifestyle-friendly coverage
For just a few more euros per month, your contents are covered anywhere in the world, not just at your registered address, with the Theft Add-on. That expensive laptop you bought with your hard-earned money? Protected. Your bike parked outside that café in Amsterdam? Covered.
AI-powered claims in English
When something goes wrong, there's no on-hold waiting or navigating Dutch customer service by phone. File a claim through the Lemonade app, and AI handles routine cases in mere minutes. More complex situations get passed to real humans who actually speak your language.
Transparent pricing
While Dutch insurers often have hidden fees and complex policy structures, Lemonade's pricing is refreshingly straightforward. You know exactly what you're paying for, with no surprise charges or Dutch-only fine print.
Real protection, real prices
Starting at just €5 per month, Lemonade's contents insurance covers everything from stolen bikes to water damage from your broken washing machine.
While traditional insurers use leftover premiums to boost their own profits, creating incentives to deny claims, Lemonade operates differently. When you get your first policy, you choose a cause you care about. Throughout the year, part of what you pay supports nonprofits tied to that cause through Lemonade's Giveback Programme.
Your coverage doesn't just protect your stuff; it helps rescue animals, supports families in need, and protects the environment. This setup eliminates conflicts: there is no incentive to reject valid claims, just straightforward coverage that does good while it protects.
Getting started
Ready to ditch insurance confusion?
Get your Lemonade quote in 90 seconds!
Because you came to the Netherlands for the opportunities, the culture, and yes, the bikes. Not the bureaucracy. With Lemonade, you get insurance that actually works for expat life: simple, transparent, and always in English.