A lightning strike can cause fire, structural damage and broken electrical equipment. When someone is struck by lightning, it can be fatal. Lightning does not have to strike a home or an appliance directly to cause damage. A discharge in the surrounding area can also cause a harmful voltage surge through (electricity) cables. This is called induction damage. Who has to pay for the damage depends on the cause, the nature of the damage and the insurance policies taken out. Lightning is in principle a natural phenomenon for which nobody is liable, but that can be different when a breached safety obligation or a defective installation contributed to the damage. This means that a third party may still be liable for lightning damage. This page describes the situation in the Netherlands.
Lightning damage and other terms
Lightning damage is more than just visible fire or strike damage. An electrical discharge can hit a building directly, but it can also strike at a distance and still damage electrical installations and connected appliances. The damage may be visible immediately, but that is not always the case. Damage to circuit boards, inverters or other electronics, for example, is sometimes only discovered later. According to the Dutch Association of Insurers (Verbond van Verzekeraars), most private home insurance policies offer cover for both direct lightning strikes and induction, but the exact definition and conditions differ per insurer.
Direct lightning strike
In a direct lightning strike, the discharge hits the home, an outbuilding, a tree, an antenna, an installation or another object directly. The enormous amount of energy can then cause fire, damage roofing or brickwork and destroy electrical installations. Smoke, soot, extinguishing and water damage can also be a direct result of the strike or of the resulting fire. That is why the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) explicitly warns of fire and other damage caused by lightning strikes during thunderstorms.
Indirect lightning strike and induction damage
With induction damage, the home is not hit by lightning directly. A nearby discharge can cause an electromagnetic field and a strong voltage surge. That voltage can enter a building through electricity cables, telephone lines, antenna cables, data cables or other conductive connections. This can damage televisions, computers, routers, charging points, alarm systems, inverters and household appliances, for example. The Dutch Association of Insurers describes induction as damage where, after a lightning strike in the surrounding area, current enters the building through outside lines.
Difference between lightning strike, overvoltage and short circuit
Overvoltage means that the electrical voltage is temporarily higher than the installation or the appliance can handle. Lightning can cause such an overvoltage, but overvoltage can also result from a fault in the electricity grid, incorrect switching or a defective installation. A short circuit occurs when electrical conductors with a different voltage level come into unwanted contact with each other. A broken appliance during or shortly after a thunderstorm therefore does not automatically prove that there is insured lightning or induction damage. In case of doubt, a technical investigation may be needed to establish the cause.
What damage can lightning cause?
Lightning can cause damage to the roof, brickwork, pipes and cables, the meter cupboard and other fixed parts of a building. In a fire, the entire contents of the home can also be lost. Induction mainly damages equipment with sensitive electronics, such as computers, televisions, modems, central heating boilers, heat pumps, home automation systems, charging points and solar panel inverters. Lightning can also cause injury and bring business activities to a halt when machines, servers or security systems fail. According to the KNMI, one or two people die from lightning in the Netherlands every year.
It is not only the part that is directly hit that can be damaged. Consequential damage can also be considerable. Think of extinguishing water in the home, spoiled contents of a freezer that has stopped working, temporary accommodation after a fire, loss of business data or loss of turnover because a business temporarily cannot operate. Whether this damage is paid for depends on the policy conditions.
Personal injury caused by lightning
Lightning can cause serious physical injury. In a direct strike, the electrical current passes wholly or partly through the body. This can lead to burns, heart rhythm disorders, nerve damage, hearing problems, eye injuries, muscle injuries or loss of consciousness. An indirect strike is also dangerous. The current can travel through the ground, a tree, a fence, pipes or other conductive objects and hit a person that way. In addition, someone can be injured by flying debris, a falling tree, fire or a fall caused by the shock.
Who is liable for damage caused by lightning?
With a purely natural phenomenon, no person or business is usually liable for the lightning damage. Liability normally requires a mistake, a defect or another breached obligation. In addition, there must be a sufficient causal link between that shortcoming and the eventual damage.
Lightning strike as force majeure
A lightning strike can be so sudden and unavoidable that nobody can be legally blamed for it. In that case, the injured party must first turn to their own buildings, home contents, car or business insurer. However, the concept of force majeure does not mean that all damage that occurs during a thunderstorm automatically falls outside the liability of others. A party can still be liable when its earlier mistake made the damage possible or made it worse.
An example is an electrical installation that was already unsafe before the thunderstorm. If a correct installation would reasonably have prevented or limited the harmful consequences of the lightning, the installer, landlord or possessor may still be liable. The victim must then show that not only the lightning, but also the specific shortcoming, was a relevant cause of the damage.
Liability of the owner or possessor of a building
The possessor of a building can be liable under Article 6:174 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW) when the building does not meet the requirements that may be expected of it in the given circumstances and therefore poses a danger to people or property. A fixed electrical installation can be part of the building. Think, for example, of seriously outdated wiring, inadequate earthing or a defective distribution board that increases the risk of fire or electrocution.
However, the mere absence of a lightning conductor or surge protection does not automatically make a home defective. Factors to consider include the type of building, its use, the applicable technical standards, the foreseeability of the danger and the measures that could reasonably have been expected. The very danger created by the defect must also have materialised.
Liability of the landlord or owners' association (VvE)
With a rented home, the landlord is responsible for remedying defects that are their responsibility under the tenancy agreement and the law. If lightning damage is partly caused by an attributable defect in the home, the landlord can be liable for the resulting damage. This may be the case, for example, when the landlord was aware of serious defects in the fixed electrical installation but did not have them dealt with in time.
In an apartment building, the owners' association (Vereniging van Eigenaars, VvE) can be responsible for common areas and installations, such as the roof, the main pipes and cables or a central lightning protection system. The resident reports damage to their own belongings to their home contents insurer, and damage to the building usually to the board or the buildings insurer of the VvE. Liability of the VvE does not arise automatically, however: here too, a shortcoming and a causal link must be shown.
Liability of an installer or contractor
An installer must carry out work as a reasonably competent and reasonably acting professional would. If they install surge protection, solar panels, a home battery, a charging point or a lightning protection system incorrectly, this may constitute an attributable failure to perform under Article 6:74 BW. Towards someone who was not a party to the contract, there may be liability based on a wrongful act (onrechtmatige daad).
The fact that protection no longer works after a heavy lightning strike does not in itself prove an installation error. No protection system can guarantee complete protection against the force of lightning. A technical investigation must establish whether the installation complied with the agreements and applicable standards and whether correct workmanship would probably have prevented the damage. With solar panels, it is also important that the installation is properly matched to any lightning protection system that is present. The Royal Netherlands Standardization Institute (NEN) points out, among other things, requirements relating to separation distance and equipotential bonding.
Liability of an employer or organiser
Under Article 7:658 BW, employers must take appropriate measures and give instructions to prevent employees from suffering damage during their work. For outdoor work, this may mean that the employer follows weather warnings and stops risky work in time. The duty of care is broad, but it is not an absolute guarantee that an employee can never be hit by a natural phenomenon.
Organisers of sports competitions, festivals, camps and other outdoor activities must also take foreseeable severe weather into account. The KNMI warns that lightning strikes can be life-threatening, especially during activities on open ground, on the water and in or near tents. An organiser can be liable if, despite a specific warning, they fail to interrupt an event, guide visitors to a safe place or clear a site. Whether the duty of care has been breached depends on the weather information available, how quickly the thunderstorm developed and the measures that were practically possible.
Is the neighbour liable if lightning hits a tree?
The owner of a tree is not automatically liable when lightning hits the tree and a branch or the entire tree then falls onto a home, fence or car. There is no general strict liability for trees based solely on ownership. Liability is assessed on the basis of the care that could be expected of a reasonable tree owner.
The neighbour may be liable, for example, when the tree was visibly diseased, dead or unstable and they failed to carry out necessary checks or maintenance. It must then be shown that the poor condition of the tree contributed to it falling over after the lightning strike and causing damage. An unexpected lightning strike on a healthy, normally maintained tree, on the other hand, will usually be borne by the injured party's own insurer. The victim must therefore show that the owner did not act with sufficient care and that this negligence contributed to the damage.
Contributory negligence and the obligation to limit damage
Even when another party is liable for lightning damage, part of the damage can remain at the expense of the injured party. That can be the case when the injured party acted carelessly themselves and this behaviour contributed to the damage occurring or to its extent. Think of someone who, despite specific warnings, stays on open ground during a heavy thunderstorm, shelters under a solitary tree or keeps using a clearly damaged electrical installation. Under Article 6:101 BW, the compensation can then be reduced proportionately. The court looks, among other things, at the causal contribution of both parties, the seriousness of their conduct and the other circumstances. Contributory negligence is not readily assumed just because someone was caught out by the thunderstorm. Lightning is unpredictable, and an injured party cannot be expected to put themselves in danger to prevent damage.
In addition, an injured party must take reasonable measures to limit further damage. This applies both to a liability claim and towards your own insurer. Think of calling the fire brigade, safely switching off the electricity, covering a damaged roof or having an emergency repair carried out. Reasonable costs to prevent or reduce imminent damage can be reimbursed as salvage costs (bereddingskosten). If an insured person fails to take such measures without good reason, the insurer can reduce the payout by the extra damage that has arisen as a result.
Not unplugging appliances in advance does not automatically mean that there is contributory negligence or that the insurer does not have to pay anything. Someone cannot be expected, for example, to walk through the home during a heavy thunderstorm to unplug appliances. A reduction is more likely when someone deliberately allows a known and easily avoidable danger to continue and additional damage arises precisely because of that.
Which insurance covers damage caused by lightning?
In the case of lightning damage, an insurer can pay for the damage in full or in part. Which insurance does this depends on what has been damaged. Lightning damage to a building can be paid for by the buildings insurer, for example. Lightning damage to loose belongings usually falls under home contents insurance. For lightning damage to a car, for example because a tree that has been struck falls onto the car, casco cover is needed. A standard third-party liability insurance (WA) therefore does not pay for lightning damage to your own car. For business damage, buildings, contents, goods or business interruption insurance can be relevant. Which insurance provides cover depends on what has been damaged and whether loss of turnover or other consequential damage is also insured. The policy conditions are always decisive and determine whether or not the lightning damage is eligible for compensation.
Buildings insurance for damage to the home
Buildings insurance covers the building and the parts that are permanently attached to the home. Think of the roof, brickwork, fixed floors, pipes and cables, the meter cupboard, a built-in kitchen and attached outbuildings. Most buildings insurance policies pay for damage caused by a direct lightning strike and often also induction damage. Univé, for example, refers to damage to walls, roofs, floors and outbuildings for buildings damage. At Nationale-Nederlanden, lightning specifically falls under the basic cover of the buildings insurance. Most Dutch insurers offer their website and policy documents in Dutch only. For an apartment, the joint buildings insurance is usually arranged through the VvE. Tenants should check whether improvements they have paid for themselves are or are not covered under the tenant's interest (huurdersbelang).
Home contents insurance for damage to appliances and belongings
Home contents insurance is intended for movable belongings in the home. These include furniture, clothing, televisions, computers and household appliances that are not built in. Both Univé and Interpolis list lightning strikes as an insured cause under contents cover. This is also the case with various other insurers. Be aware, though, that the conditions regarding induction damage, depreciation and the excess, among other things, can vary greatly. That is why it is important to always consult the specific policy conditions.
A damaged appliance is not always simply replaced with a new one. The insurer can choose to have it repaired or can pay out an amount based on the new value or current value, depending on the policy conditions. Age, wear and tear and the ratio between current value and new value can play a role. Univé generally reimburses belongings that are no more than five years old at new value. For older belongings, the current value can be reimbursed when, due to wear or ageing, it has fallen to less than 40 per cent of the current new value. Different rules apply to certain categories.
Car insurance for lightning damage
A standard third-party liability insurance (WA) only pays for damage for which the driver or registered keeper is liable towards someone else. Lightning damage to your own car does not fall under it. For that, casco cover is needed. According to the Dutch Association of Insurers, lightning damage to a car is usually insured when casco or all-risk insurance has been taken out, and such natural damage normally has no effect on your position on the no-claims ladder (bonus-malus ladder). Do check which casco variant you have taken out. Insurers use different names, such as WA limited casco, WA plus and fully comprehensive. Cover for loose accessories, charging cables and personal belongings in the car can also differ.
Health insurance for personal injury
Medical treatment after a lightning strike in principle falls under the basic health insurance (basisverzekering). For insured persons aged eighteen and over, the compulsory excess applies to treatment at A&E (Spoedeisende Hulp) and other hospital care. In 2026, this is €385. It is possible to increase this amount to a maximum of €885 in exchange for a premium discount. No compulsory excess applies to GP care and the out-of-hours GP service (huisartsenpost).
Accident insurance
Accident insurance is separate from the question of whether anyone is liable. This insurance can pay out a pre-agreed amount when a lightning strike leads to permanent disability or death. The amount of the payout is determined by the sum insured and the conditions of the policy. Accident insurance does not pay for all the damage actually suffered, such as full loss of income or all the costs of domestic help.
Is indirect lightning damage always paid for?
Although, according to the Dutch Association of Insurers, most private home insurance policies cover induction damage, there is no general rule that every electronic fault during a thunderstorm is paid for. The policy can set requirements for the cause and can regulate certain appliances, installations or maximum amounts separately. Business policies also more often treat induction as additional cover.
The insured person must in principle make it plausible that the damage was caused by a covered event. Merely showing that an appliance is broken and that there was a thunderstorm that day may not be enough. If the insurer disputes the stated cause with reasons, additional technical evidence may be needed. Photos of a broken appliance do show that there is damage, but do not necessarily prove what caused that damage. A 2021 ruling by the Dutch Financial Services Complaints Institute (Kifid) confirmed this general rule of evidence.
Compensation for lightning damage
The amount of compensation for lightning damage depends on the damaged item, the insurance taken out and the valuation clause in the policy. The insurer first investigates whether there is a covered lightning strike or induction damage and then establishes whether repair is still possible and economically justified. Depending on the situation, the repair costs, new value, current value or costs of repair or rebuilding are reimbursed. Additional costs, such as emergency repairs, temporary accommodation and preventing further damage, can also fall under the cover.
Repair costs, new value and current value
When repair is technically and economically justified, the insurer can reimburse the repair costs or have the appliance repaired. If repair is not possible or is more expensive than replacement, a payout follows in accordance with the valuation clause in the policy. For relatively new belongings, that is often the new value. For older or heavily depreciated belongings, the compensation may be limited to the current value. With damage to a building, repair or rebuilding is usually the starting point. The insurer can require the compensation paid out to actually be used for repair.
Consequential damage and extra costs
In addition to the direct repair costs, costs for emergency measures, clearing away damaged items, temporary accommodation, storage and preventing further damage can also be reimbursed. The differences between home insurance policies are particularly large when it comes to such special costs. So check which costs are reimbursed on top of the sum insured and which maximum amounts apply. Keep all bills and consult the insurer in advance about large expenses. In an emergency, you may of course act first to protect people and prevent serious further damage.
Excess, depreciation and exclusions
Whether an excess applies depends on the policy. Some insurers do not apply an excess for lightning damage, while other policies apply a general chosen or compulsory excess. Wear and tear, poor maintenance, an inherent defect or incorrectly performed work may also be excluded in the policy. An excluded cause does not always mean that all consequential damage is excluded as well. That depends on the exact wording of the policy. Always ask for any rejection to be substantiated with the applicable article of the insurance conditions.
Second expert opinion in case of disagreement
Do you disagree with the assessed extent of the damage? Then you can bring in your own expert. This is called a counter-assessment (contra-expertise). Subject to conditions, the reasonable costs of assessing the damage are borne by the insurer, but there may be discussion about the reasonableness of the rate and the number of hours worked. Kifid therefore advises making clear agreements about the costs in advance and checking what the policy says about this. A counter-expert primarily establishes the extent of the damage. In a dispute about the cause, an electrical, structural or fire safety expert may also be needed.
What should you do after lightning damage?
After a lightning strike, it is important to first ensure people's safety and prevent further damage. You then need to record the damage carefully and report it to the right insurer as soon as possible. Keep damaged appliances, collect proof of purchase and have the cause investigated when it is unclear whether there was a direct strike, induction damage or a technical defect.
- Get everyone to safety
Call 112 in the event of fire, smoke, risk of collapse or injuries. Do not touch damaged cables, appliances or electrical installations.
- Limit further damage when it is safe to do so
Only switch off the electricity if this can be done without risk. Have dangerous installations assessed by the fire brigade, the grid operator or an electrician.
- Record the situation
Take photos and videos of strike marks, fire and soot damage, damaged appliances and the surroundings. Note the date, the time and what you observed just before and after the incident.
- Report the damage as soon as possible
Contact the buildings, home contents, car or business insurer. With a rented home or apartment, the landlord or VvE must also be informed.
- Keep damaged appliances and parts
Do not throw anything away before the insurer or expert has given permission. Damaged parts may be needed to establish the cause of the damage.
- Collect proof of value
Look for proof of purchase, manuals, guarantee certificates, bank statements and earlier photos of the damaged belongings. Request quotes if necessary.
- Have the cause investigated
Have an independent or specialised expert draw up a report when it is unclear what caused the damage.
- Hold another party liable if necessary
Do this in writing when there are specific indications of a defective installation, overdue maintenance or a breached duty of care. Describe the mistake, the damage and the presumed causal link.
How can you limit damage caused by lightning?
Lightning is a powerful natural phenomenon that is only predictable to a limited extent. Weather services can indicate when and in which region thunderstorms are likely, but cannot predict exactly where and when a lightning discharge will occur. Within a thunderstorm, electrical charges develop continuously and new discharges can arise within a very short time. The current does not necessarily always seek the highest point, but a route along which the electrical discharge can travel most easily at that moment.
A lightning discharge involves an enormous amount of energy and can, in a fraction of a second, cause fire, damage parts of buildings and make electrical installations or appliances unusable. A strike some distance away can also cause a harmful voltage surge through cables and pipes. It is therefore impossible to rule out lightning damage completely. You can, however, reduce the risk of fire, broken equipment and other damage and limit the consequences of a strike. This can be done with, among other things, suitable structural measures, a well-maintained electrical installation, correct earthing and suitable lightning and surge protection. The following tips are useful here.
- Follow KNMI warnings and stop work, sports and events on open ground or water in good time;
- When a thunderstorm has been forecast, unplug vulnerable equipment and, where possible, disconnect antenna, data and charging cables, but no longer do this once the thunderstorm is dangerously close;
- Have a qualified installer assess in advance whether surge protection in the meter cupboard and additional protection for sensitive equipment are needed;
- Have the electrical installation, earthing, solar panels, charging point and any lightning protection installed and maintained correctly;
- Check whether solar panels, home batteries, charging points, outbuildings and expensive electronics are covered by your insurance;
- Make sure you have working smoke detectors, clear escape routes and a safe main switch that can be reached in an emergency.
Frequently asked questions about lightning damage
Lightning can cause fire, injury and serious damage to buildings, vehicles and electrical equipment. A strike does not have to be direct: lightning in the surrounding area can also cause a harmful voltage surge through cables and pipes. Such natural phenomena not only come with a lot of force, but often also with a lot of questions. Below are some short answers to frequently asked questions about lightning and lightning damage.
What attracts lightning?
Lightning is not attracted by any one particular material. Tall, free-standing and highly conductive objects, such as trees, masts and buildings, do have a greater chance of being hit. However, lightning can also strike a lower point or open ground.
Is lightning dangerous?
Yes. A lightning discharge can cause fire, electrocution, hearing damage, heart rhythm disorders and severe burns. During a thunderstorm, stay away from open ground, water, tall trees and metal structures.
Where does lightning strike?
Lightning follows an electrical discharge path between a cloud and the earth or between clouds. Tall and isolated objects are hit relatively often, but lightning does not necessarily hit the highest point in the area. The exact place of the strike cannot be predicted in advance.
What if lightning strikes a house?
A direct strike can cause fire and damage to the roof, brickwork and the electrical installation. Through induction, televisions, computers, charging points and other appliances can also break down. Call 112 in the event of fire, smoke or acute danger and do not touch damaged electrical installations.
What if lightning strikes a car?
A car with a closed roof and a metal body usually offers good protection, because the electrical current is conducted along the outside. Stay in the car and keep windows and doors closed until the thunderstorm has passed. Have the car checked afterwards if there is visible damage or electronic faults.
Is lightning fatal?
Yes, a direct or nearby lightning strike can be fatal. A victim does not carry an electrical charge after the strike and may be touched and resuscitated immediately. Call 112 straight away and start resuscitation if the victim is not breathing normally.
Is a lightning strike insured?
A direct lightning strike is covered by most buildings and home contents insurance policies. Damage caused by induction or overvoltage is often also insured, but the conditions differ per policy. Damage to your own car is usually only insured with limited casco or fully comprehensive cover. A standard third-party liability insurance (WA) does not pay for this damage.