What is household property?
Your household goods consist of all the loose items in and around your home that you can move without damaging anything. These include furniture, clothing, and other personal belongings. Anything you take with you when you move is considered part of your household goods.
Part of your household goods
Your household contents therefore include all of your family’s personal belongings that you use in and around your home. Household contents insurance covers damage to the following items listed in the Dutch Association of Insurers’ household contents list:
air conditioning (separate)
range hood (separate)
alarm system (standalone)
sculpture (separate)
security system (separate)
security lighting (separate)
outdoor barbecue / BBQ (separate)
outdoor kitchen (separate)
outdoor light (on the facade)
stove (separate)
jacuzzi (separate)
stove (gas, wood, or pellet stove) (separate)
safe (not built into the wall)
refrigerator (separate)
artwork (freestanding)
Legioblock (stacked wall system)
nameplate
window coverings, including (roller) blinds and sheers
sauna (separate)
satellite dish
solarium
telephone system (switchboard + handsets)
sign
flagpole (separate)
Floor covering (carpet or vinyl only)
sundial
Outdoor gear and household goods
As the list of household contents provided by the Dutch Association of Insurers shows, household contents aren’t limited to items inside the home. Loose items in the shed, as well as items you use outdoors or have placed around the house, are usually covered for damage under household contents insurance.
Examples include outdoor furniture such as a barbecue, an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor light on the exterior wall, or a freestanding hot tub. A permanent garden fence or a permanent canopy, on the other hand, is covered by home insurance.
Well-insured for all your belongings at home
With home contents insurance, your belongings are covered in the event of damage. All your belongings together are worth a lot. What if, for example, a fire breaks out or there’s a break-in? You could end up paying a lot of money to replace everything. With home contents insurance, you can insure the items in your home and avoid having to cover all the costs yourself.
Take Out Home Contents Insurance
Value of Your Household Goods
With Alpina’s home contents insurance, you automatically have coverage against underinsurance. This means you won’t be underinsured, you no longer have to fill out a home contents valuation form, and your valuables are also well insured.
Expand Your Home Contents Insurance
Valuables
In addition to your “regular” household contents, you can also insure valuables and other valuable possessions. These include, among other things:
- Works of art: such as paintings, sculptures, and other art objects.
- Antiques: objects that are more than 100 years old.
- Body jewelry: watches and jewelry worn on or against the body.
- Collections: curated collections of, for example, coins or stamps.
- Musical instruments: for example, guitars or pianos; this also includes 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 under valuables insurance, or a separate mobile electronics insurance policy may be required.
Mobile devices
Standard household property 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 automatically covered and often requires additional coverage under the “mobile electronics” category.
As mentioned earlier in the section on valuables insurance, whether these devices are covered under valuables insurance or must instead be included in the coverage for mobile electronics varies by insurer. Therefore, always check the policy terms and conditions carefully.
Exclusions in Home Contents Insurance
Damage caused by the following events is not covered under the household contents insurance policy:
Floods
War or armed conflicts (hostilities)
Earthquakes
Nuclear Disasters
Damage Caused by One's Own Fault
Damage that you accidentally cause to your belongings is covered as standard in many cases. Think, for example, of a small cabinet that tips over and gets damaged, or a vase that breaks because you accidentally knock it off the table.
The difference between personal property and real property
In the event of damage or when determining the insured value, it may be unclear what is covered under contents insurance and what is covered under building insurance. However, this distinction is important, especially for ensuring the proper coverage under a contents or building insurance policy.
Household contents include all movable items in your home. These include furniture, curtains, and personal belongings. The structure of the building refers to 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 under household contents or building coverage? If so, consult the overview provided by the Dutch Association of Insurers. It clearly specifies, for each item, which type of insurance covers it.
When Building Components Are Still Considered Personal Property
When the building and its contents belong to different owners, an item that normally forms part of the building may still be considered part of the contents if the following conditions are met:
- The owner of the household goods installed the part himself or had it installed at his own expense.
- An improvement made by the previous tenant was incorporated for a fee.
- The building owner or the owner's insurer will not compensate for the damage or will refuse to repair it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Household Goods
What is considered household property?
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 yard, as long as they are freestanding and not attached to your home. If anything happens to these items, you can file a claim through your insurance.
How do I calculate the value of my household goods?
Use a household contents valuation tool or an online tool to get 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 personal property and building coverage?
Household contents are all the 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 cell phones covered under my home contents insurance?
Usually not included as standard. Electronic devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops often require additional coverage through a valuables or mobile electronics policy. Check the terms of your policy.
What are some common exclusions?
Floods, earthquakes, and damage caused by willful 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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