Dutch legal aid insurance leaves domestic violence, incest victims without coverage

Legal aid insurance in the Netherlands often fails to cover victims of domestic violence or incest, particularly when the abuser lives in the same household or is the policyholder, AM reported.

Unlike Belgium, which revised policies this summer to ensure coverage once the perpetrator is convicted, Dutch insurers have not yet implemented similar changes. The issue gained attention in Belgium after lawyers reported that victims living with their abuser were denied legal aid.

AM reviewed policies from major insurers, including ARAG, DAS, Allianz Direct, Univé, ASR, Nationale-Nederlanden, ABN Amro, Nh1816, Centraal Beheer, and Interpolis. ARAG, Nh1816, and ABN Amro exclude inter-household conflicts. Allianz Direct, DAS, ASR, Nationale-Nederlanden, Centraal Beheer, Interpolis, and Nh1816 designate the lead policyholder.

Many Dutch insurers reportedly treat perpetrators as co-insured rather than third parties, or designate a single lead policyholder who can decide whether the victim receives coverage. “Most intimate-terror cases are from men to women, so it’s not surprising the lead policyholder is the abuser,” family law lawyer Ingrid Vledder told AM.

“I have seen cases where victims have no access to financial accounts or even a bank card,” family law lawyer Ine Avontuur told the newspaper. Valente, a national organization supporting women fleeing violence, confirmed such situations occur, though less frequently.

Several insurers said they are reviewing policies following the Belgian example. Centraal Beheer said victims may receive assistance even if terms would otherwise exclude them. DAS, ASR, and Nationale-Nederlanden also plan reviews, while ARAG highlighted the Belgian model—coverage once the public prosecutor pursues a case—as a workable solution. Univé already uses a shared-coverage approach, allowing victims to receive full benefits even if the abuser loses coverage.

All insurers confirmed convicted perpetrators are never covered. Victims without insurance can still access free legal support through Slachtofferhulp Nederland or subsidized legal aid, depending on income. The Dutch Association of Insurers said it is open to dialogue “to ensure victims are not left between a rock and a hard place.”