Best Travel Insurance For The Netherlands: Our Pick (2024)

Advertiser Disclosure

Important Disclosure: The content provided does not consider your particular circ*mstances and does not constitute personal advice. Some of the products promoted are from our affiliate partners from whom we receive compensation.Read More

If you require any personal advice, please seek such advice from an independently qualified financial advisor. While we aim to feature some of the best products available, this does not include all available products from across the market. Although the information provided is believed to be accurate at the date of publication, you should always check with the product provider to ensure that information provided is the most up to date.Read Less

{{ showSummarySection ? hideSummaryText : showSummaryText }}

We used data (November 2023) from our travel insurance partner to review single trip travel insurance policies for a family of four (two adults, both aged in their 40s and two teenagers) who are travelling to the Netherlands for seven days.

We’ve assumed no members of the family have any pre-existing medical conditions.

All policies include at least £2 million in medical and repatriation cover and £2,000 in cancellation cover, as well as £1,500 in baggage and belongings cover.

We scored each policy on the following factors:

• Price: we awarded points on a scale of one to five. Those offering more competitive prices scored more points
• Excess: (a set amount that the policyholder or the persons named on the policy must contribute towards each claim): we awarded policies points on a scale of one to five. Those levying a lower excess on medical claims earned more points (policies levy the excess to be paid on each person named on the policy – not just the policyholder – unless stated otherwise)
• Excess waiver: we awarded policies five points if they offered the option for policyholders to waive the excess levied on claims by paying an additional premium (that is, paying more towards the cost of the policy).

The scores for each policy were totalled, and converted to Forbes Advisor star ratings out of a potential five stars. Policies with matching scores were ranked based on price.

While travel insurance for the Netherlands is optional, it can provide peace of mind to know there’s a financial safety net in place should something go wrong while away.

Emergency medical treatment particularly can be costly, stacking up into the hundreds and even thousands of pounds. Without insurance in place a traveller would have to pay these costs straight from their own pocket.

That said, travellers from the UK can potentially limit their medical costs by carrying a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which can be obtained free of charge from the NHS (valid European Health Insurance Cards, the GHIC’s predecessor, can also be used).

GHICs and EHICs entitle the carrier to treatment in a state facility on the same terms as a local, which may mean there is no bill or a much reduced one relative to the full cost a UK national would incur.

Every individual travelling, including any children, should have their own card. Validity should be checked well in advance of travelling as replacement cards can take several weeks to arrive.

Travellers can choose from three main types of policy:

• single trip insurance for the Netherlands: covers a one-off trip
• annual ‘multi-trip’ insurance: covers more than one trip in the space of 12 months to the Netherlands and other destinations
• backpacker insurance: covers longer trips (of up to 365 days with some insurers) to multiple destinations including the Netherlands.

While cover may differ slightly between policies, a policy for the Netherlands typically includes the following benefits as standard:

• medical and repatriation: covers medical treatment and costs to get the policyholder back home should they fall ill while away
• cancellation and curtailment: pays out if the policyholder can no longer go on holiday or needs to cut their trip short due to an emergency, such as losing their job or a family member dying
• baggage and belongings: covers the cost or replacing the policyholder’s possessions in the event they are lost or stolen
• personal liability: helps cover legal bills if the policyholder accidentally injures someone or damages someone else’s property.

Many will provide a cash sum if the policyholder misses their flight due to an emergency such as their car breaking down, or if their flight is delayed by 12 hours or more.

Cover for devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets – gadget cover – may be automatically included or require an extra premium payment.

Usually a policy for the Netherlands will cover low-risk sports as standard. These usually include trekking, hiking and sailing.

Cover for high-risk activities such as mountain climbing, bungee jumping and paragliding may cost extra.

Policy documentation includes details of the sports covered.