Family from Staphorst must pay €500,000 damages after collision with train because son is not insured due to religion

Third-party insurance

If you want to take a car on the road in the Netherlands, you must be at least WA-insured. This is stipulated in the Motor Insurance Liability Act (Wam). This way you are insured against damage you cause to others. In short, that’s how the party who damages you gets neat money from your insurance company, to fix up a car or buy a new one, for example.

Faith

But did you know that, strictly speaking, third-party insurance is not mandatory at all in the Netherlands? If your religion or philosophy of life prevents you from having third-party insurance, you can apply for an exemption from the insurance requirement as a conscientious objector. If you appear credible, you will be allowed to hit the road without third-party insurance after approval. With all the risks involved….

Staphorst

This exemption is now literally costing a family from believing Staphorst dearly. The family’s 17-year-old boy stopped his tractor with a breakdown at a crossing last weekend. He jumped out of the cab just in time, after which the intercity from Zwolle completely wrecked the tractor.

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500,000 euros

Train traffic between Zwolle and Meppel was down all evening. The train carrying 400 passengers was unable to continue its journey due to the damage sustained. In addition to the train and tractor, several cars in the area were also badly damaged, due to stones flying around from the gravel bed. Including the cost of replacement transportation for 400 passengers, the damage amounts to some 500,000 euros.

Not insured

The young tractor driver does not have to pay the high costs himself, but his parents do. However, these are not insured due to religious reasons. So says father Harry van der Horst to the AD: “We are well aware of what the costs are.” Meanwhile, a fundraiser was organized in the village for the family, who were not initially expecting it. “But in the end we said, fine, organize something.” Within 24 hours, over 80,000 euros were raised. The initiators are working with Staphorst Helps Staphorst. The foundation provides assistance to Staphorst residents who are uninsured. Basically an insurance company so…

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