Taking out insurance

You can suffer damage in all sorts of ways. If you accidentally break things that belong to someone else, for example. Or if you cause someone an injury. You are liable in that case. That means you have to ensure that someone gets money for the broken items, or that a hospital bill is paid. 

That can be a lot of money. Do you have liability insurance? If you do, the insurer will pay that for you.

There are two types of liability insurance:

• For private individuals
• For self-employed people  

What is and is not insured differs per insurer. Make sure you know what an insurer pays and does not pay and whether that is what you want. What if you don’t? Check to see whether a different insurance would be better for you.

Aansprakelijkheidsverzekering voor particulieren, AVP (personal liability insurance)

The personal liability insurance (AVP) covers financial consequences if a person causes damage to another person.

Do you work for a private home, sex club or escort agency? In that case, the operator has to have business insurance, which is required by law. This insurance usually covers the costs of the damage caused if you work there. Ask the operator about that if you go to work there.

Liability insurance for self-employed people 

If you are self-employed, you need liability insurance for self-employed people. This is mandatory if you register with the Chamber of Commerce. The insurance compensates the damage you caused to someone else during your work. That could be broken items or costs if you injure someone.

The liability insurance pays the costs.

This insurance pays for help and advice if you are having legal problems. For example, if you are having a problem with:

• Someone you work for
• Someone you rent a room from 
• An organization that is not treating you well

In that case, it’s nice if someone who knows what your rights and obligations are helps you. A legal specialist or attorney, for example. Good legal aid insurance compensates the costs of that.

You only take out incapacity to work insurance if you are self-employed. That means you are a self-employed person.
That means you won’t get any money from a boss if you are unable to work.

This insurance ensures that you get benefits, every month, for example, if you are no longer able to work. This could be due to an accident or illness, for example. You are then incapacitated to work.

Healthcare insurance pays for you if you’re sick or need medical attention. This could be for medicines or if you have to go to the hospital, for example. In the Netherlands, everyone is required to have healthcare insurance. How much you pay for that each month depends on:

• How much of the costs you have do you want to pay yourself? This is called the deductible 
• What kind of treatments you want compensation for. Physiotherapy or the dentist, for example

Is an insurer refusing to accept you as a client? Or have you not been helped properly? You can file a complaint with that insurer. How do you file a complaint with your insurer?

If the insurer not helping you properly with your question or complaint? Let us know. Our Reporting and Advice Point can help you. Send us your question or complaint