Like everything else in life, volunteering is not without risks. It is therefore important that volunteers are properly insured, for example through volunteer insurance. This prevents volunteers from having to pay themselves for any damage they cause while doing voluntary work. Many municipalities also have volunteer insurance for the volunteers in their municipality. This page describes the situation in the Netherlands.
Liability and volunteers
Volunteering may be voluntary, but that does not mean it comes without obligations. A number of laws and rules that govern voluntary work really do have to be taken into account. An organisation that works with volunteers would do well to bear this in mind and draw up a good volunteer policy.
Liability of volunteers
Making a mistake and causing damage is enough to be liable. Like everyone else, volunteers can be liable, however good their intentions. It makes no difference whether the volunteer causes the damage intentionally or unintentionally. Some municipalities have taken out volunteer insurance for the volunteers in their municipality: the municipal volunteer insurance (gemeentelijke vrijwilligersverzekering) from Centraal Beheer, formerly the VNG Volunteer Policy (VNG Vrijwilligerspolis) of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG). It is also possible that the organisation itself has taken out insurance or that the volunteer's personal liability insurance (AVP) already provides good cover.
Volunteer contract
When a volunteer starts working for an organisation, agreements are made about this. For example, about the expectations of all parties. Think of agreements about supervision and attendance. These agreements are recorded in a volunteer contract or volunteer agreement. Sometimes concluding a volunteer contract is compulsory to get cover from the volunteer insurance. A volunteer contract generally includes agreements on the following matters:
- The volunteer's tasks
- Start and end of the agreement
- Trial period
- Supervision and training
- Expense allowance
- Insurance
- Confidentiality
In principle, it is not compulsory to draw up a volunteer contract in writing. A verbal agreement is also fine. Even so, it is always advisable to draw up a volunteer contract in writing. This is in the interest of all parties.
Employer's liability for volunteers
An employer has a duty of care and can be liable for accidents at work. The employer must ensure a healthy and safe working environment. If accidents happen at work, the employer is almost always liable. This duty of care applies not only to an employee with an employment contract, but also, for example, to self-employed persons (zzp'ers) and volunteers who are in a position comparable to that of an employee.
More about liability for accidents at workCertificate of Conduct (VOG)
Organisations may ask for a Certificate of Conduct (Verklaring omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) when they engage volunteers. This is a statement, issued by Justis, the screening authority of the Ministry of Justice and Security (ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid), which should show that the person's past behaviour is no objection to doing voluntary work for the organisation. A VOG is especially important if the volunteers have to work with minors or people with an intellectual disability. Whether or not a VOG is free depends on the purpose for which it is requested. Through the Free VOG Scheme (Regeling Gratis VOG), volunteers who work with vulnerable people can get a VOG free of charge. The scheme belongs to the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and is carried out by the CIBG; the VOG itself is applied for through Justis (source: gratisvog.nl). If an organisation does not ask for a VOG, this can sometimes be a reason to hold the organisation liable if the volunteer then oversteps the mark. In some cases, this can be expected of the organisation.
Municipal volunteer insurance
Some municipalities have taken out volunteer insurance themselves: a municipal volunteer insurance. It is almost always the municipal volunteer insurance (Centraal Beheer, formerly the VNG Volunteer Policy, VNG Vrijwilligerspolis). This is insurance for the volunteers that the municipality engages, as well as for other volunteers and volunteer organisations that are active in the municipality. Some municipalities have a different volunteer policy, but in general this municipal volunteer insurance is the standard in the Netherlands. It is the Volunteer Insurance (Vrijwilligersverzekering) of Centraal Beheer, which until 1 January 2025 was offered through a framework agreement (mantelovereenkomst) with the VNG. Since 1 January 2025, this insurance no longer runs through the VNG, but directly between the municipality and Centraal Beheer (VNG, news item of 25 November 2024). Most Dutch insurers offer their website and policy documents in Dutch only.
Cover of the municipal volunteer insurance
The municipal volunteer insurance is a secondary insurance: if the volunteer already has other insurance, that insurance takes precedence. It protects the volunteers and informal carers (mantelzorgers) in the municipality. This policy also provides cover if damage occurs on the way to the voluntary work. This insurance consists of:
- Accident insurance for volunteers
- Insurance for volunteers' personal belongings
- Liability insurance for volunteers
- Legal expenses insurance for volunteers
- Liability insurance for legal entities
- Directors' and officers' liability insurance
- Traffic liability for legal entities
There is no excess. The insurance applies within Europe for volunteers who work in or from the Netherlands (source: Centraal Beheer, Vrijwilligersverzekering voor vrijwilligers; policy conditions LVV25, January 2025). Various things are not insured, such as liability for the building. Volunteers with the fire service and the police are not covered by this volunteer insurance. According to Centraal Beheer, voluntary work for an owners' association (Vereniging van Eigenaars, VvE), for example, is not covered either, because it does not serve a social interest for society.
Since 1 July 2021, the Management and Supervision of Legal Entities Act (Wet bestuur en toezicht rechtspersonen, WBTR) has applied, with rules for directors and supervisory board members of associations and foundations. A volunteer director who does not comply with these rules can become personally liable. For this directors' liability, the municipal volunteer insurance provides secondary cover (a safety net) of up to €1,000,000 per claim and €2,000,000 per insurance year for all insured persons together, for organisations with a limited balance sheet total (source: Centraal Beheer). The exact conditions are in the municipality's policy.
Study the municipality's volunteer insurance carefully
The situation can differ per municipality. It is therefore advisable to obtain information from the municipality. Check carefully whether the voluntary work is sufficiently covered. It usually remains useful to take out insurance for the volunteers yourself as well. An insurance adviser can help assess this situation.
Supplementary liability insurance for volunteers or volunteer insurance
Organisations sometimes engage many volunteers. It can be difficult to determine for each volunteer whether other insurance policies already cover the risk sufficiently. That is why many organisations choose to take out supplementary liability insurance for volunteers. This is also called volunteer insurance. The organisation then covers the liability risk of the volunteers. In general, this is fairly cheap insurance, especially because it is a secondary insurance. This means that this supplementary insurance only provides cover if there is no other insurance that already does so.
Liability of the legal entity
Some volunteer insurance policies also cover the liability of the legal entity. These are situations in which a legal entity is held liable as an employer, for example if a volunteer has caused damage to a third party. This only applies with regard to volunteers, and therefore not if, for example, a member of the organisation causes damage.
Damage to the organisation's property
It can happen that a volunteer causes damage to the organisation's belongings while carrying out their work. In principle, this is not covered by the volunteer insurance. It makes no difference whether the items belong to the organisation or are in the organisation's care, for example rented or borrowed items. Some rental companies offer their own insurance for the items they rent out.
Other useful insurance for voluntary work
Voluntary work comes with various risks, more than just the liability risk. That is why there are various other types of insurance that can be useful, such as accident insurance and legal expenses insurance.
Personal liability insurance of the volunteer
In the Netherlands, personal liability insurance (AVP) is not compulsory. However, it is highly recommended and, fortunately, most people have it. Personal liability insurance can cover the volunteer's liability, but not all AVP policies do this. That is why supplementary liability insurance for volunteers can be useful. The policy conditions make clear whether or not the volunteer's AVP covers their liability as a volunteer. If in doubt, contact the insurer.
More information about personal liability insurance
Liability insurance for businesses
Not only the volunteer can be held liable, but also the organisation under whose direction the volunteer works. After all, the organisation can be expected to act reasonably and carefully, including when it engages volunteers. With business liability insurance (AVB), this organisation or association can protect itself against all kinds of claims for damages.
More information about business liability insurance (AVB)
Legal expenses insurance
Whether it concerns a claim for damage or an insurance matter, expensive legal proceedings are often involved. Mediation, which associations and organisations often rely on, is not necessarily cheap either. That is why taking out good legal expenses insurance is advisable. With legal expenses insurance, you receive legal advice and legal assistance. The insurer will reimburse the costs of the legal support. The individual volunteer's legal expenses insurance may not provide cover as standard when it concerns voluntary work. Be sure to discuss this with the insurer.
More information about legal expenses insurance
Accident insurance
Accident insurance pays out a fixed amount if something happens to someone, including in the event of permanent disability or death. Private accident insurance does not always cover injury sustained during voluntary work. It is important to read the policy conditions carefully and, if necessary, obtain information from the insurer. This is a very useful insurance that gives volunteers the protection they deserve.
More information about accident insurance
Event insurance
Volunteers are often engaged for events, for example a theme day or a demonstration. Very specific rules apply to events. Events are often not covered by regular insurance. It is therefore advisable to discuss this carefully with the insurer and take out suitable event insurance. Event insurance provides cover for the financial consequences of an unforeseen situation during an event. Because every event is different, drawing up event insurance will always be tailor-made.
More information about liability at events
Frequently asked questions about liability and volunteers
Volunteers mean well, but that does not mean everything always goes well. Volunteers can cause damage and be liable for it. Or volunteers can themselves become the victim of an accident. It is important that volunteers and organisations are well informed about the rules that apply. That is why we have this FAQ about volunteers and volunteer insurance.
Who is covered by volunteer insurance?
The policy conditions will make clear who is or is not covered by volunteer insurance. In general, there is cover for volunteers who do unpaid work, without obligation, in some organisational context. This work must serve a social interest and not a commercial interest. Visitors, participants, parents and so on are generally not insured by the volunteer insurance.
Is a municipality obliged to take out volunteer insurance?
No, the municipality has no obligation to insure volunteers. Most municipalities have taken out volunteer insurance, but this is not an obligation and it is possible that one's own municipality has not done so. Ask the municipality for more information about this.
My municipality has volunteer insurance, but I do voluntary work outside the municipality. Am I covered?
This depends on the policy conditions. With the municipal volunteer insurance from Centraal Beheer, the volunteer is insured through the municipality in which they live, even if the volunteer works in another municipality that does not have this insurance. It is advisable to always check this with the municipality first.
I am a volunteer and I have an accident with the car. Does my third-party liability insurance (WA) cover this?
Whether or not someone is acting as a volunteer does not matter here. The volunteer's third-party liability insurance (WA) also provides cover if they take part in traffic as a volunteer. It is not necessary to take out special insurance for this.
Can an owners' association (VvE) be liable for its volunteers?
Yes, if an owners' association (VvE) has employees or volunteers who work for the association, the VvE can be liable. This is then a case of employer's liability. The VvE can be liable if the volunteers suffer damage during their work and if the volunteers cause damage to third parties. That is why it is important that a VvE is properly insured and covers these risks well.