Insurance in the Netherlands

By Manja van KesterenUpdated on Jun 23, 2025

There are many different types of insurance in the Netherlands. Which kinds of policies you choose to take out depends on your personal situation. It’s worth noting, however, that certain types of insurance are universal, meaning it is compulsory to take out a policy, although you are generally able to freely choose your own provider.

Below is an overview of different types of insurance that expats in the Netherlands might encounter. Before taking out any kind of insurance, it is wise to compare policies, fees and premiums before choosing an insurance provider.

Get your insurance set up

Centraal Beheer

Univé

Laka

Dutch health insurance

All residents of the Netherlands are required to take out at least basic Dutch health insurance. If you want coverage for other medical treatments like dental care, glasses and contact lenses, or alternative medicine, you can also take out additional health insurance. Learn more about health insurance in the Netherlands.

International students in the Netherlands are not always obliged to take out health insurance. Find out more about health insurance for international students.

National & employee insurance

The Dutch social security system is also based on a number of compulsory insurance schemes. As someone working in the Netherlands, you are almost certainly covered by these schemes, whether you pay your premiums yourself (usually as a deduction on your salary) or are insured by your employer.

In return for making contributions, you can claim a variety of benefits and allowances in case you are unable to work due to accident, illness, or old age. The schemes making up the national and employee insurance system in the Netherlands are:

Car insurance in the Netherlands

Every vehicle owner in the Netherlands must, at the very least, have third-party liability insurance (WA-verzekering). This kind of policy will pay out in case you or your vehicle causes damage to another person, car or property. However, there are other types of car insurance in the Netherlands that offer more comprehensive coverage.

Car insurance providers in the Netherlands:

Centraal Beheer
Univé
ABN Amro (in English)
European Insurance (car insurance comparison in English)

Motorcycle insurance providers in the Netherlands:

Liability insurance

Liability insurance is not compulsory in the Netherlands, but plenty of people choose to take out a policy to protect themselves from third-party claims. Liability insurance protects you from lawsuits or other claims if you unintentionally cause damage or harm to another person or their property.

Home insurance in the Netherlands

Whether you’re renting or you own your own home, it's a good idea to take out home insurance. There are different types of home insurance in the Netherlands, so how do you choose the best one for you? And is it compulsory? Read more about home insurance in the Netherlands.

The following companies provide household contents insurance, covering damage caused by burglaries, fires, water damage, and similar:

Residential premises insurance

Residential premises insurance is compulsory for expats who buy a house in the Netherlands.

Life insurance in the Netherlands

Plenty of people choose to take out life insurance in the Netherlands to protect their family or dependents from financial hardship in the event of their death. If you are taking out a mortgage, you may even be required to get life insurance. On top of this, life insurance policies form one of the strands of the third pillar of the Dutch pension system.

Term life insurance compensates your family in case of your death. Take a look on Centraal Beheer for more.

Funeral insurance helps cover the cost of your funeral, should you pass away. It is particularly useful for expats living in the Netherlands who wish to be buried in their homeland. You can compare different funeral insurance policies in English on Uitvaartverzekering.nl.

Legal insurance

Legal insurance covers costs relating to lawyers and other legal services, should you get involved in a dispute, for example with your employer, landlord, neighbour, a business, or someone else. Having legal insurance helps you to feel confident asserting your legal rights, without having to worry about the costs involved.

ABN Amro (in English)
Nationale-Nederlanden

Business insurance in the Netherlands

If you run your own business in the Netherlands, either as a freelancer or an entrepreneur, your personal insurance will not cover any business claims. You therefore should consider taking out business insurance for peace of mind. In some situations, you may be required to have a business insurance policy. Find out more in our guide to business insurance in the Netherlands.

Disability insurance

If you are self-employed in the Netherlands, you are not normally covered by the employee insurance scheme, and so your income is not protected if you are unable to work due to an illness or an accident.

Disability insurance is a kind of insurance for self-employed professionals, to ensure them an income should they become unable to work. From 2027, it will be compulsory for self-employed people to take out disability insurance in the Netherlands. You can find out more in the guide to business insurance above, or compare disability insurance policy options on the AOVZZP.nl website.

Pet insurance in the Netherlands

Owning a pet can come with a number of unexpected expenses, especially if your animal becomes ill, has an accident, or develops a chronic condition. Pet insurance protects yourselves from these costs. Some types of pet insurance in the Netherlands cover veterinary treatments (fully or partially), while others also pay out if your pet is lost or stolen.

Bicycle insurance

Love cycling? Bicycle theft is a big problem in the Netherlands so be prepared for loss or damages by taking out bicycle insurance!

Accident insurance

Accident insurance compensates you or your family in case of accident or death. For more, take a look on European Insurance (customer service in English; insurance provided by De Goudse Verzekeringen)

Travel insurance in the Netherlands

Travel insurance is extremely useful for expats who travel frequently. It is not compulsory to have it, but travel insurance is one of the most popular types of insurance in the Netherlands, because it covers you against all kinds of mishaps that can happen on holiday, such as:

Your trip is cancelled or interrupted, for instance due to an illness or family emergency
Your trip is delayed, for instance due to strikes
You have a medical emergency and require treatment abroad
Your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed

Some recommended providers of travel insurance in the Netherlands are: