What is contents?
Your household effects consist of all loose items in and around your home that you can move without damaging anything. This includes furniture, clothing, and other personal belongings. Everything you take with you when you move is considered part of your household effects.
Part of your household goods
Your household contents therefore include all your family's personal belongings that you use in and around your home. Household contents insurance covers damage to the following items from the Dutch Association of Insurers' list of household contents:
air conditioning (loose)
exhaust hood (loose)
alarm system (separate)
sculpture (loose)
security system (separate)
security lighting (separate)
outdoor barbecue / BBQ (separate)
outdoor kitchen (separate)
outdoor lamp (on facade)
stove (separate)
jacuzzi (separate)
stove (gas, wood, or pellet stove) (separate)
safe (not built into the wall)
refrigerator (loose)
artwork (stand-alone)
legioblock (stackable wall system)
nameplate
window coverings, including (roller) curtains and net curtains
sauna (separate)
satellite dish
solarium
telephone system (switchboard + handsets)
sign
flagpole (loose)
floor finish (carpet/vinyl only)
sundial
Outdoor equipment and household goods
As the contents list of the Dutch Association of Insurers shows, it is not only the items inside your home that are covered by contents insurance. Individual items in the shed or items that you use outside or have placed around the house are usually also insured against damage under your contents insurance.
This includes garden furniture such as a barbecue, outdoor kitchen, outdoor lamp on the facade, or a freestanding jacuzzi. A fixed garden fence or a fixed canopy, on the other hand, is covered by building insurance.
Well insured for all your belongings at home
With home contents insurance, your belongings are insured against damage. All your possessions together are worth a lot. What if there is a fire or a break-in? You could end up paying a lot of money to replace everything. With home contents insurance, you can insure the contents of your home and avoid having to pay all the costs yourself.
Get contents insurance
Value of your contents
Alpina's home contents insurance policies come with standard underinsurance protection. This means you are not underinsured, you no longer need to fill in a home contents valuation form, and your valuables are also properly insured.
Extend contents insurance
Valuables
In addition to 'ordinary' household contents, you can also insure valuables and valuable possessions. These include:
- Works of art: such as paintings, sculptures, and other art objects.
- Antiques: objects older than 100 years.
- Body jewelry: watches and jewelry worn on or attached to the body.
- Collections: assembled collections of, for example, coins or stamps.
- Musical instruments: for example, guitars or pianos, including electric instruments.
- Audiovisual equipment: electronic devices such as televisions, laptops, cameras, computers, sound systems, and similar equipment.
Please note: depending on the insurer, audiovisual equipment may be covered by valuables insurance or may require separate mobile electronics insurance.
Mobile devices
Standard home contents insurance does not cover electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, digital sports watches, smart glasses, televisions, laptops, cameras, computers, sound systems, and similar equipment. This equipment is therefore not covered as standard and often requires additional insurance under mobile electronics.
As mentioned earlier with regard to valuables insurance, it varies per insurer whether these devices are covered by valuables insurance or whether they must be insured under the coverage for mobile electronics. Therefore, always check the policy conditions carefully.
Exclusions in contents insurance
Damage caused by the following events is not covered by the contents insurance:
Floods
War or armed conflicts (hostilities)
Earthquakes
Nuclear disasters
Damage due to own fault
Damage that you accidentally cause to your own belongings is usually covered by standard insurance. Examples include a cabinet that falls over and gets damaged, or a vase that breaks because you accidentally knock it off the table.
The difference between contents and buildings
In the event of damage or when determining the insured value, it may be unclear what falls under household contents and what falls under buildings. However, this distinction is important, especially for the correct coverage under household contents or buildings insurance.
The contents include all movable items in your home. These include furniture, curtains, and personal belongings. The building itself is everything that is attached to the house and cannot be removed without causing damage, such as walls, floors, roofs, and built-in kitchen appliances.
Are you unsure whether a particular item is covered by contents or buildings insurance? Consult the overview provided by the Dutch Association of Insurers. It clearly states which insurance covers which items.
When parts of the building are nevertheless considered household effects
When the building and its contents belong to different owners, something that normally belongs to the building may still be considered part of the contents if the following conditions are met:
- The owner of the household effects installed the part themselves or had it installed at their own expense.
- An improvement made by the previous occupant has been taken over for a fee.
- The owner of the building or their insurer will not compensate for the damage or refuses to repair it.
Frequently asked questions about household contents
What is included in contents?
All loose items in your home that you take with you when you move, such as furniture, clothing, and appliances. This also includes items in your shed or garden, as long as they are separate and not attached to your home. If anything happens to these items, you can report the damage through your insurance.
How do I calculate the value of my contents?
Use a household contents value calculator or online tool to make a good estimate of the replacement value of your belongings. This prevents underinsurance and ensures that you have the right coverage.
What is the difference between contents and buildings?
Household contents are all loose and movable items in and around your home. The building itself includes everything that is attached to your home, such as walls, floors, roofs, and built-in kitchens. You need separate insurance for both.
Are mobile phones covered by my home contents insurance?
Usually not standard. Electronic devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops often require additional insurance through valuables or mobile electronics coverage. Check the terms and conditions of your policy.
What are common exclusions?
Floods, earthquakes, damage caused by deliberate acts or war are often excluded from coverage. Damage caused by poor maintenance or negligence is also usually excluded. Always read the fine print of your policy carefully.
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