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Calculating damage items
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Engaging experts (at the expense of the liable party)
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Requesting medical information
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Negotiating compensation
Household Help for Personal Injury in the Netherlands
Compensation for household help in personal injury cases
Household help is necessary in a personal injury case in the Netherlands, handled under Dutch law, when a victim can no longer perform certain household tasks themselves. For example, someone might no longer be able to vacuum. Or, for instance, can no longer carry groceries themselves. Household help provided by family and friends must also be compensated by the liable party.
The household help guideline uses a rate of €9.50 per hour. If a victim needs 10 hours of help per week, the compensation is €95 per week. On average, a woman spends 20 hours on household tasks. A man spends an average of 10 hours on household tasks (source: Centraal Bureau voor de statistiek). When calculating the number of hours of help needed, a comparison must be made between the tasks performed before the accident and the tasks that can no longer be performed since the accident.
The damage item for household help is one of the most substantial damage items in a personal injury case. In addition to household assistance, a personal injury victim may be entitled to compensation for other damage items, such as loss of self-sufficiency (chores in and around the house) and pain and suffering compensation (smartengeld). Besides full compensation, the victim also has the right to reimbursement of the costs of a personal injury lawyer.
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Calculating pain and suffering compensation
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Calculating damage items
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Engaging experts (at the expense of the liable party)
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Requesting medical information
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Negotiating compensation
Frequently asked questions
Is domestic help reimbursed after personal injury?
Yes. If your injury means you can no longer do certain household tasks (such as vacuuming or carrying groceries), the liable party must reimburse that help, including help by family and friends.
How much is the allowance for domestic help?
The Dutch Personal Injury Council (De Letselschade Raad) applies a rate of EUR 13.00 per hour (Domestic Help Guideline, 2026). For 10 hours of help a week that is EUR 130 per week.
How is the number of hours determined?
By comparing which tasks you did before the accident and which you can no longer do since. Domestic help is often one of the largest items in a personal injury claim.
📅 Last updated: 1-6-2026 · figures checked for 2026.