Wat kost een aansprakelijkheidsverzekering voor creatieve ZZP'ers?

In creative work, pricing never feels neutral. You might be familiar with this from quotes: setting the price too low feels like you’re belittling yourself, while setting it too high feels like you have to defend your right to exist. Every amount says something—about trust, about risk, and about how seriously you take your own work.

Something similar happens with insurance.

The question “How much does it cost?” seems practical. But beneath that question often lies something else: How much responsibility do I actually bear? And how much can a single mistake cost before my workspace, income, or peace of mind comes under too much pressure?

The honest answer is: it depends on your work. Not as an evasion, but because a photographer on location, a graphic designer behind a screen, and an architect on a construction project don’t face the same risks.

Why isn’t there a fixed price for every creative freelancer?

A premium isn’t a judgment on your talent. It’s an assessment of risk.

Insurers look at your profession, your revenue, and whether you have employees. Based on that, they estimate the likelihood of a claim—and the potential cost of it.

That makes it difficult to pigeonhole creative professions. “Designer” could mean you only develop digital identities, but it could also mean you design interiors, oversee trade show booths, or oversee the installation of art installations. “Photographer” could mean taking portraits in a quiet studio, but it could also mean shooting on location amid crowds of people and equipment.

At Oddny, the premium for liability insurance for creative freelancers starts at €9.63 per month. The exact premium depends on your field, revenue, coverage amount, and deductible.

Think of that amount as a starting point—not as a universal truth.

What kinds of amounts do you see in the market?

As a rough guide: a coach or consultant pays an average of around €150 per year for professional liability insurance, while a plumber or carpenter pays closer to €500 per year. These aren’t direct comparisons for creative professions, but they illustrate how much the nature of the work influences the premium.

For creative self-employed professionals, professional liability insurance (AVB) is often estimated at between €25 and €35 per month. Professional liability insurance (BAV) typically starts around €500 per year.

Why mention this at all? Because it shows that liability insurance doesn’t come with a single price tag. A general liability policy (AVB) covering physical damage is priced differently than a professional liability policy (BAV) covering professional errors. A business with low revenue and limited on-site visits looks different from a growing studio that hires freelancers and takes on projects for larger clients.

So the useful question isn’t just: How much do I pay per month?

But also: what exactly am I paying for?

What makes a creative practice more or less expensive to insure?

Your discipline. If you work primarily digitally, the risk of physical damage is often lower. If you work with cameras, lights, props, installations, tools, models, visitors, or construction sites, your risk profile becomes more dynamic.

Your revenue. Higher revenue often means larger projects, bigger clients, and sometimes higher stakes. A mistake or incident can then have far-reaching consequences.

Your coverage limit. At Oddny, the standard limit is €2,500,000 per claim, with a maximum of €5,000,000 per insurance year. A higher or lower limit should align with the type of projects you undertake and what clients require.

Your deductible. A higher deductible can lower your premium, but it means you’ll pay more out of pocket in the event of a claim. This isn’t just a financial calculation—it’s also about your financial cushion. Can you cover €250, €500, or €1,000 yourself without throwing your monthly budget off balance?

Staff or collaborations. If you have interns, employees, or hire other creators while you remain ultimately responsible, an insurer will view your practice differently.

General Liability Insurance (AVB) or Professional Liability Insurance (BAV)—why that difference affects costs too

Many creative freelancers search for “liability insurance” and come across two terms.

General liability insurance (AVB) covers damage to people or property. A lamp falls over. A client trips. An object damages something on site.

A BAV covers professional errors: advice, design, calculations, or professional judgment that results in financial loss for the client. For architects, interior designers, consultants, UX strategists, and designers with significant advisory responsibilities, this may be more relevant than for someone who primarily creates visual work.

That difference affects the premium. A BAV policy may be more expensive because the potential damage is less tangible but can be financially significant.

But be careful: a cheap insurance policy that doesn’t fit your work isn’t a savings. It’s just a lower premium for less coverage.

How do you evaluate costs without focusing solely on the premium?

First, look at the coverage. Does your actual work match what’s on paper? If, as a photographer, you also shoot video; as a designer, you also oversee installations; or as a stylist, you also transport items, the description must be accurate. Damage that doesn’t align with the specified activities can cause problems.

Next, look at exclusions. Damage to items you rent, borrow, or have in your care isn’t always automatically covered. For creatives, this is often particularly relevant: borrowed clothing, rented equipment, client materials, props, and spaces.

Also consider legal assistance. A claim isn’t just about the amount of money. It involves assessment, correspondence, determining liability, and sometimes mounting a defense.

And consider adaptability. Your practice changes. Today it’s just logos; next year, it might be branding projects with photo shoots. Today you’re working solo; later, you might be collaborating with a producer. A policy that doesn’t adapt will lag behind your reality.

When does a higher premium make sense?

When your work involves more contact with people, equipment, or significant stakes.

Think of a videographer who films events—in crowded settings, with equipment, cables, and a tight schedule. Or an interior designer who manages suppliers and makes decisions that are later implemented in a space. Or an architect who works within established industry agreements and already includes professional liability as standard.

In situations like these, you’re not just buying “coverage.” You’re buying the flexibility to handle an incident professionally rather than bearing the burden personally.

That’s a big difference.

Because when a claim comes in, it rarely happens at a quiet moment. There’s always a project underway. There’s always a deadline. There’s always other work that demands attention as well. Protection helps prevent a single event from taking all the wind out of your week.

Can you include the premium in your rate?

Yes—and that might be the most sensible way to look at it.

Business insurance premiums are tax-deductible as business expenses and can be included in your hourly rate. Not as a separate expense you reluctantly pay every month, but as part of your business’s foundation. Just like software, accounting, equipment maintenance, and time for administrative tasks.

A creative practice can only remain free if its foundation isn’t constantly creaking.

That doesn’t mean you have to insure everything to the maximum. “Don’t insure yourself into bankruptcy” is a down-to-earth but sound piece of advice. Don’t choose more than necessary. Don’t choose less than what’s prudent.

A simple calculation exercise for your own situation

Write down three assignments that are representative of your work. Not your dream projects—your actual practice.

For each assignment, note: where did the work take place, what items belonged to others, how many people were involved, what terms were in the contract, what was your revenue, and what could reasonably have gone wrong?

Then ask yourself four questions.

Can I cover minor damages myself—a broken accessory, a damaged object, a minor repair?

Can I cover larger damages without affecting my business—personal injury, major property damage, or legal fees?

Do my clients require specific proof of coverage or a specific coverage amount?

Does my current coverage description match what I actually do?

If you answer those questions honestly, the premium becomes less of an isolated issue. It becomes part of your work.

So what does it really cost?

Enough to warrant a serious look.

Not so much that you have to choose it blindly. Not so little that you can just brush it aside.

The real cost depends on what you do, where you work, and how much responsibility your job now entails. Start there—and then look at Oddny’s liability insurance to see how it applies to your specific situation.