The risk is especially high in dry summers. Climate change (drought, heat) also increases the risk, for example in the Veluwe and in Brabant. There is no separate market for wildfire insurance in the Netherlands; The risk is usually integrated into regular fire policies.
Warning system
Prevention and risk management are well regulated in our country. Through the general warning system (such as code yellow/orange/red), the KNMI informs about extreme weather that can worsen wildfires, such as: heat, drought, for example in combination with strong winds. These warnings are translated into concrete measures by safety regions and also shared with nature managers such as Staatsbosbeheer.
Are you insured for wildfires?
Damage caused by fire (including wildfire) is in principle covered by standard home insurance (for buildings) and contents insurance (for belongings). This also applies if the fire comes from outside, for example from a nature reserve.
To be sure, always check your policy conditions and it is also important that you do not show any reckless behaviour that causes the fire. Companies, farmers or recreation parks often need additional or specific policies.
Climate damage monitor
Storms and forest fires in particular cause a lot of damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure internationally. In the Netherlands, there is a greater chance of peak rainfall; In 2022, for example, the triplet storm caused more than 700 million euros in damage in our country. In the Climate Damage Monitor , the insured damage due to extreme weather can be seen from the year 2007.
Want to know more about wildfires? Then also read: 5 questions for Derik Huizer about forests and damage prevention.