Insurers exsist to make things possible. Because we know, manage and share risks, our customers can participate in (social) traffic, business, living and travelling. We do this by organising solidarity: the core of our work. In the current era, this is more relevant than ever. Because risks and uncertainties are increasing and new challenges are emerging that require an (insurance) solution. Think of new climate risks, the energy transition, the tightness in the labour market, an ageing population and systemic changes in the field of social security.
Solutions to these risks and challenges require a contemporary interpretation of three core elements in our work: trust, connection and collaboration...
Themes
The insurance sector wants to make a meaningful contribution to current social issues from our solidarity basis. Not by pointing the finger at the government or other parties, but by stepping forward and working together in three areas:
Resilience
View our ambitions
Social security
View our ambitions
Climate-proof Netherlands
View our ambitions
Resilience
Our ambition: insurers support all customers in dealing with risks and thus contribute to a resilient society.
That is why we propose:
- To develop a vision on general essential insurance and how to increase its insurance rate, together with the government and consumer organisations. Primary attention is paid to life insurance, liability and home contents insurance. And to activating the self-employed to think about and make choices about the accrual of pension assets. This includes making people more aware of the financial risks they run and the possibilities of protecting themselves against them. With education-oriented financial education for young adults and students.
- As a sector, to contribute to improving the financial resilience of our clients, in particular by providing insight and action perspectives, for example through the development of a periodic financial meeting with other stakeholders such as the AFM.
- To handle personal injury claims faster, more transparently and more unambiguously through, among other things, a standardised and standardised approach.
- Tighten our rules on data use (ethical framework) so that customers can trust that we use data to their advantage and they continue to have access to the solidarity we organise. The framework must apply to all parties active on the Dutch market.
- Contributing to knowledge platforms together with relevant public and private parties to protect the sector and customers against cyber risks and to prevent and combat (digital) fraud and crime.
Social security
Our ambition: insurers contribute to the livelihood security of citizens and customers by helping to optimally organise social security and pension systems.
That is why we propose:
- To ensure a responsible and safe transition to the new pension system for participants. We are implementing the flexible contribution scheme and choice guidance in such a way that it will become the standard for appropriate and transparent pension schemes in the second pillar. We can also contribute to a safe transition for pension fund participants. We offer security to groups that need fixed benefits and/or protection against the risks of disability and death.
- Working with the government and other relevant organisations, such as the UWV, on a new insurance system for the self-employed and making the disability system for employees simpler and more active.
- Contribute to physically and financially safe living by working with partner organisations such as the Homeowners' Association and the Dutch Banking Association to prevent homeowners from getting into trouble due to external circumstances. For example, by drawing attention to adequate compensation and repair of foundation damage caused by groundwater management.
- Together with other parties, to see what initiatives the sector can take to implement the social objective of a socially responsible investment policy (the S for ESG).
Climate-proof Netherlands
Our ambition: insurers contribute to a sustainable and climate-proof Netherlands.
That is why we propose:
- Working together with public-private parties on damage prevention, early warning and thus contributing to a water-safe society. Together with knowledge institutes, we are taking the initiative to boost a climate-proof Netherlands and thus limit and prevent damage caused by extreme weather as much as possible. In this way, we want to prevent house construction in new locations with a high risk of flooding as much as possible.
- To strive for a public-private solution for possible damage as a result of the collapse of primary flood defences. In the meantime, we are working on the realisation of a counter for the handling of water damage for our customers.
- Developing methods together with stakeholders that offer customers guidance in determining the sustainability of, among other things, insured objects (CSRD).
- Based on our risk-driven expertise, and in collaboration with stakeholders, to develop guidelines and good practices for the net zero objective in the claims portfolio. We also work together with the technical sector, so that insurers are able to make new technology such as the home battery, hydrogen engines and CO2 storage easily insurable. In this way, we as a sector support the energy transition.
- Investing in blue and green bonds, through public-private financing in collaboration with InvestNL and steering towards ambitious and stable routes towards the energy transition from the government. This should lead to every insurer investing in a climate-neutral way by 2050, in accordance with the Paris climate goals. Together with pension funds, banks and the government, we are contributing to a future-proof Netherlands, with sufficient climate-proof homes. Under the leadership of the Association, the sector is committed to sustainable projects through ICSR 2.0 and is working closely with the rest of the financial sector on this joint mission.
A vital sector
This course outlines our commitment for 2025 to 2027 and thus determines the direction of our thinking and working. We have strong ambitions for our customers and for the Netherlands. To be able to achieve this, a vital sector is required, in which insurers can function optimally. At the same time, there is a lot coming our way: tightness in the labour market, (inter)national regulatory pressure, the data revolution and associated cyber threats, embedded insurance, new (risky) technology and new entrants.
To respond effectively to this dynamic environment, a supervisory framework is needed that not only limits but also creates sufficient room for innovation while ensuring a level European playing field. These themes will also be on the agenda in the coming years.