In this guide
This guide compares independent brokers, buying direct from insurers and international specialists for expats in the Netherlands in 2026: when each makes sense, how advisers are paid, and how to pick.
💡 For specific insurance categories see aanvullende health insurance, DSW health insurance review, car insurance for expats, and life insurance Netherlands.
Should You Use an Insurance Broker or Go Direct in the Netherlands?
For standard Dutch cover, buying direct is usually enough, and a broker earns its place for complex cases such as disability insurance for the self-employed, mortgage-linked cover, high-value possessions and international medical needs. Dutch basic health insurance is the clearest example: the government decides what is in the basic package (Rijksoverheid), so a broker cannot get you more basic cover. The payment model also differs: for car, home and liability insurance an adviser may be paid by commission from the insurer, while for mortgages and life cover you pay the adviser directly because the cost may not be built into the product (AFM, checked 31 October 2026).
There are two main routes:
Route A: Direct from the insurer. Take out the policy yourself on the insurer’s website, for example a.s.r., Centraal Beheer or Univé. You compare quotes and conditions yourself, often in Dutch. Some direct insurers still offer personal contact: Univé, for example, has advisers on the phone, WhatsApp and live chat and has about 100 shops across the Netherlands, and gives a package discount of up to 10% when you take out several different policies with it (only different non-life policies count, so health insurance does not) (unive.nl, checked 31 October 2026).
Route B: Independent broker (tussenpersoon). An adviser who can place policies with several insurers, recommends products, helps with claims and reviews your cover. For schadeverzekeringen the broker may be paid through commission from the insurer; for life cover and mortgages you pay the adviser directly (AFM). Ask for the costs in writing.
The right route depends on the insurance type and your situation.
Best Routes by Insurance Type
Health Insurance: Compare Insurers Yourself
The government decides what the Dutch basic package covers; insurers differ in premium, policy type and which care providers they contract (Rijksoverheid). Compare premium and policy type per insurer on the insurers’ own sites. Narrow down your options with our Health Insurance Wizard.
A broker adds little for the basic policy. For supplementary (aanvullende) cover, compare what each package reimburses for the care you expect to use. For international private medical cover (for example Cigna Global or Bupa Global), see the section on international cover below.
For how the basic policy, deductible and supplementary cover work, see our Dutch health insurance guide, or check the policies on a.s.r. directly.
Best route: compare insurers yourself.
Car Insurance: Compare Insurers Yourself
Quotes depend on your car, age, claim-free years and address, so ask several insurers for a quote.
Brokers can help with unusual cases (classic car, several drivers, very valuable vehicles), but for everyday drivers they are not necessary.
Best route: direct quotes from several insurers, unless your situation is unusual.
Home Contents (Inboedel): Compare Insurers Yourself
Compare cover limits and exclusions as well as the premium.
If you own very valuable items (art, jewellery), ask the insurer or a broker how they are insured and whether limits per item apply.
Best route: direct from the insurer for renters and average households.
Liability Insurance (Aansprakelijkheidsverzekering): Direct
Private liability insurance is an inexpensive policy: Univé’s, for example, starts at €3.63 a month (unive.nl, checked 31 October 2026). Many insurers offer it alongside home contents cover.
Best route: direct from the insurer.
Travel Insurance: Direct or Bundled
Dutch travel insurance comes as an annual (continuous) policy or per trip. Univé’s annual travel policy, for example, starts at €1.79 a month (unive.nl). Some paid bank or card plans include travel-related insurance: Revolut lists insurance such as global medical and delayed-flight cover in its higher plans (revolut.com, checked 31 October 2026). For bunq, check the current plan page for what each plan includes. Compare a bundle with a standalone policy on cover, not only on price.
Best route: direct from the insurer, or a bundle with your bank or card if the cover fits.
Life Insurance (Overlijdensrisicoverzekering): Advice Often Helps
Term life insurance involves choices about term, sum insured, health questions and cover for a partner. A mortgage adviser can arrange a policy that matches the mortgage. Under the commission ban, you pay for that advice directly (AFM).
Best route: advice when the policy is linked to a mortgage or your family situation is complex; otherwise compare insurers’ quotes yourself.
Disability Insurance (AOV) for Self-Employed: Advice Recommended
An AOV (arbeidsongeschiktheidsverzekering) is a complex product: definitions of disability, waiting periods and terms differ between insurers, and the choice matters when you actually need it. A broker who specialises in disability cover for the self-employed and compares several insurers can help. As with life cover, an adviser may not take commission from the insurer on an individual AOV, so you pay for the advice directly (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiële ondernemingen, article 86c).
Best route: specialist broker.
Mortgage-Linked Insurances: Mortgage Adviser
When you buy a house, the mortgage adviser (hypotheekadviseur) can also advise on linked insurances such as term life cover. For mortgages the cost of advice may not be built into the product, so the adviser charges you directly under a fee agreed with you (AFM, checked 31 October 2026).
Best route: the mortgage adviser, as part of the mortgage process.
International / Expat-Specific Coverage: International Insurer or Broker
International private medical insurance (for example Cigna Global, Bupa Global or Allianz Care) is sold by the insurers themselves or through international brokers. Cigna Global cites coverage in more than 200 markets and territories, “with 2.4m health professionals” (cignaglobal.com, checked 31 October 2026). Such a policy does not replace Dutch health insurance if you live or work in the Netherlands. Read our comparison of private international health insurance.
Best route: the international insurer directly, or an international broker.
What Does a Broker Cost?
We do not publish a cost table, because premiums depend on your profile and a broker’s cost depends on how it is paid. For schadeverzekeringen (car, home contents, liability) an adviser may receive commission from the insurer; for products under the commission ban you pay the adviser directly (AFM). Ask for the adviser’s fee in writing before you start.
Whether a broker is worth it depends on:
- How comfortable are you with insurance paperwork in Dutch?
- Do you want one contact person when anything insurance-related happens?
- Do you have time to handle claims yourself?
For most expats with simple situations, self-service is enough. For self-employed people who need disability cover, or for mortgage-linked insurance, advice is worth considering.
When a Broker Makes Sense
Consider a broker if any of these apply:
1. You’re self-employed (zzp). Disability insurance (AOV), business liability (bedrijfsaansprakelijkheid) and professional liability (beroepsaansprakelijkheid) need careful choices. See the ZZP registration guide.
2. You’re buying a house. Mortgage-linked insurances and the choice between buildings (opstal) and contents (inboedel) cover.
3. You have international coverage needs. Property in several countries or international private medical cover.
4. You have high-value possessions. Jewellery, art or classic cars where per-item limits matter.
5. You don’t speak Dutch and don’t want to handle Dutch claims processes yourself. Ask the broker whether it works in English.
6. Your claims history is complicated. A broker can help you find cover.
When You Probably Don’t Need a Broker
Buy direct if:
1. You’re a renter with simple finances. Health, contents, liability and perhaps car insurance.
2. You prefer self-service. Comparing quotes and conditions yourself takes time but no advice fee.
3. You’re staying a short time. A broker relationship is less useful for short-term cover.
4. Your needs are basic and you can read the conditions. Some insurers document their product in English (see below).
Brokers and Insurers to Look At in 2026
Comparing yourself
We do not recommend a specific comparison site. For health insurance, our Health Insurance Wizard helps you narrow down the options; then check the insurers’ own sites.
Dutch brokers
We do not name individual brokers, because we could not verify their services and languages ourselves. Ask your employer’s HR department or expats in a similar situation for referrals, ask each broker whether it advises and handles claims in English, and check the firm in the AFM register (see below).
International insurers
- Cigna Global: international private medical insurance for individuals and families; prices via its online quote tool.
- Allianz Care: international health plans (Care Base, Care Enhanced, Care Signature) with online quotes.
- Bupa Global: international health insurance.
Illustrative Insurance Setup for an Expat Household
The items below are illustrative, not quotes; check current premiums with each insurer.
- Health (basic + supplementary): for example DSW’s basic policy (€158.50 a month in 2026, rising to €173.25 a month in 2027, dsw.nl) plus a supplementary package if you need one
- Car insurance: get quotes from several insurers
- Home contents: choose the sum insured that fits your possessions; compare cover and exclusions
- Liability (private): for example Univé from €3.63 a month
- Travel: an annual policy, for example Univé from €1.79 a month, or check whether your bank plan includes travel cover (bunq’s plans are bunq Free €0.00, Core €3.99, Pro €9.99 and Elite €18.99 per month; what each includes is on the current plan page: bunq Help: What plans are available, checked 31 October 2026)
- Self-employed: disability insurance (AOV), business liability and, depending on your work, professional liability, preferably with advice
In a setup like this, a broker’s value sits mainly on the self-employed side; for the personal policies, buying direct is usually enough.
Common Insurance Broker Mistakes Expats Make
Hiring a broker for everything. For simple products such as home contents or liability cover, advice adds little.
Using a broker without comparing. Get one or two direct quotes from insurers to check the broker’s offer.
Not asking about commissions and fees. A reputable broker should explain how it is paid. If it is evasive, look elsewhere.
Keeping a broker that no longer adds value. Review once a year whether you still use the service you pay for.
Skipping disability cover without thinking it through. Disability insurance (AOV) is currently not compulsory for the self-employed; the government is working on a compulsory basic insurance, expected around 2030 (KvK). Until then you decide yourself, so read the conditions of any AOV carefully before you buy or skip it.
Buying international health insurance “just in case”. If you live in the Netherlands and use Dutch care, a basic policy plus supplementary cover may be enough. International private cover is mainly for frequent travel or international mobility.
Forgetting the annual review. Review your health insurance every year: insurers publish next year’s premiums before 12 November, and you can cancel your policy until 31 December (Rijksoverheid). That is also a natural moment to look at other policies.
Can You Get Insurance With English-Language Support in the Netherlands?
Yes, but it varies by insurer, and a multilingual broker is not the only route. Some Dutch insurers let you buy in English yourself: CZ lets you calculate a health insurance premium and take out a policy online in English at cz.nl/en, ONVZ runs an English-language website, and Lemonade sells home cover with an English policy document (cz.nl/en and onvz.nl/en checked 31 October 2026; Lemonade details below). Others, such as a.s.r., state that their correspondence is in Dutch, so ask before signing whether the conditions and claim letters are available in English.
There is a middle option between a Dutch-language insurer and a paid adviser: an insurer that documents its product in English so you can read the conditions yourself.
For home cover that currently means Lemonade. Lemonade Insurance N.V. is a non-life insurer with a licence from De Nederlandsche Bank, reference number R162036, and sells contents cover from €5 a month and buildings cover from €17 a month in English (lemonade.com/nl/en, checked 31 October 2026). Its English FAQ (checked 31 October 2026) also shows the trade-offs: you sign up only through the app or website, not by phone; service is by email on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00; buildings cover does not cover apartments; and theft without a break-in, or of your bike outside the home, is only covered with the Anti-Theft add-on. Our Lemonade review sets out what it does and does not cover, and the comparison with Centraal Beheer, FBTO and Univé shows what you give up for the English.
Lemonade, Univé, a.s.r. and bunq are approved partners of ours and the links to them on this page are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change the advice above: for anything complex, a broker still earns their keep.
How Do You Compare and Check Insurance Brokers in the Netherlands?
Start with the licence: look the firm up in the AFM’s Check je aanbieder register, which shows whether a provider, intermediary or adviser holds a licence and whether a warning has been issued about it (AFM, checked 31 October 2026). Then ask how the broker is paid, which products and insurers it can advise on, and whether it will handle claims in English. For life cover, term life, individual disability insurance and mortgages, the adviser must give you a vergelijkingskaart (comparison card) before advising you, setting out its services, independence and costs (AFM).
When evaluating a broker:
- English confirmed. Ask explicitly whether advice, documents and claims handling are available in English. Talk on the phone first.
- Independent or not. An insurer’s own adviser usually advises only on its own products; an independent adviser includes products from several providers (AFM).
- Transparent on fees and commissions. It should explain how it is paid, in writing.
- Specialty matches your needs. For example self-employed cover, mortgages or international cover.
- Personal referrals. Ask two or three expats in a similar situation.
Bottom Line
For most expats in 2026, buying standard cover directly from insurers is enough, and a specialist adviser is worth it for complex cases: disability cover for the self-employed, mortgage-linked insurance and international needs.
Don’t pay for advice on simple products, and do consider advice for disability cover or complex international situations.
For specific insurance types see aanvullende health insurance, DSW health insurance review, car insurance for expats, life insurance Netherlands, and the ZZP registration guide if you’re going freelance and need self-employed cover.
External source: KvK — starten met een bedrijf — independent information on this topic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an insurance broker as an expat in the Netherlands?
Not always. For standard products such as health, car, home contents and liability insurance you can compare insurers yourself on their own websites. A broker adds value when your needs are complex: disability insurance as a self-employed person, mortgage-linked cover, high-value possessions or international medical cover. Check any broker in the AFM register before you start.
How are insurance brokers paid in the Netherlands?
It depends on the product. For a limited group of products, namely savings accounts, schadeverzekeringen (such as car, home contents and liability insurance) and consumer credit, an adviser may receive commission from the insurer. For other products, such as mortgages and life cover, the commission ban (provisieverbod) applies: the cost of advice may not be built into the product, and you pay the adviser directly, by the hour, a fixed fee or a subscription (AFM, afm.nl/nl-nl/consumenten/themas/financieel-advies/advieskosten, checked 31 October 2026). Ask any broker to explain in writing how they are paid before you start.
What's the difference between a broker, an agent and buying direct?
According to the AFM, a bank or insurer usually advises only on its own products, while an independent adviser (tussenpersoon) includes products from several providers and can also help you with claims during the policy. Buying direct means you take out the policy yourself on the insurer's website or by phone.
Are international insurers like Cigna better for expats?
International insurers such as Cigna Global, Allianz Care and Bupa Global sell health plans for people who live abroad or move between countries. They do not replace Dutch health insurance: if you come to live or work in the Netherlands, the government says you must take out a policy with a Dutch insurer, even if you have insurance in another country, unless your employer is outside the Netherlands (Government.nl). For expats who stay in the Netherlands and use Dutch care, a Dutch basic policy with optional supplementary cover is the starting point.
Can a Dutch insurance broker help me with international claims?
It depends on the broker and the policy. A broker who placed your policy can help with claims under it. For treatment abroad under Dutch health insurance, the basic policy reimburses up to what the treatment would cost in the Netherlands (Rijksoverheid), so check your supplementary or travel cover first. Ask a broker in advance whether it handles claims for international policies and in English.
How do I find an English-speaking insurance broker in the Netherlands?
Ask your employer's HR department or expats in a similar situation for referrals, and ask each broker directly whether it advises and handles claims in English. Then check the firm in the AFM's Check je aanbieder register for its licence and any warnings.
Do I need a broker for life insurance in the Netherlands?
It can help. A term life policy (overlijdensrisicoverzekering) involves choices about term, sum insured, health questions and cover for a partner, and a mortgage adviser can arrange it together with the mortgage. Life cover falls outside the products for which an adviser may take commission from the insurer, so the advice cost may not be built into the policy and you pay the adviser directly (AFM, checked 31 October 2026). For disability insurance as a self-employed person (AOV), where policy conditions differ between insurers, advice is also worth considering.
Do I need a broker for home contents and car insurance?
Usually not. For standard car, home contents (inboedel), liability and travel insurance you can compare insurers' own quotes and conditions yourself. A broker adds most value in unusual cases, such as very valuable contents, classic or very expensive cars, or a complicated claims history.