News item | 11-03-2022 | 14:30
On the proposal of Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius of Justice and Security, the Council of Ministers has agreed to a leniency scheme for damage for which victims were not insured during the flooding in Limburg and North Brabant in July 2021.
Due to the major flooding in Limburg and parts of North Brabant, the cabinet decided last year to apply the Damage Compensation Act (Wts) in the event of disasters. The water damage compensation scheme provides compensation for material damage that is not insurable, avoidable or recoverable. This means that compensation only applies to damage for which insurance cannot reasonably be taken out. When dealing with the reports received, it was found that in about 800 to 900 cases damage was caused by extremely heavy rainfall or by overflowing streams and gullies. In principle, this damage is reasonably insurable, which would mean that these victims are not eligible for compensation for their damage.
Due to the exceptional situation, the extensive damage and the great suffering that the flooding caused among the victims, the cabinet has decided to provide a one-off compensation for damage that was in principle reasonably insurable.
Damage under the water damage compensation scheme could be reported to RVO until 16 December 2021 at the latest. So far, RVO has paid out a total of €15.6 million to 663 victims. After the entry into force of the leniency scheme, RVO can deal with reports relating to damage that in principle was reasonably insurable.