Short answer
In your own home, doing electrical work yourself is not prohibited, but the installation must comply with NEN 1010. If something goes wrong and the work turns out not to meet the standard, an insurer can reject the claim. Stricter rules apply to rented homes, VvE (owners' association) installations and commercial premises. Work on the consumer unit, the bathroom and anything fixed is better left to a professional.
Who this article is for The DIYer. Not an argument that you may do nothing, but an honest overview of where the line is.
What the law says
In the Netherlands there is no ban on doing electrical work in your own home. What does apply: the installation must comply with NEN 1010. That is not optional advice but the standard it is tested against if something happens.
For a rented home, a VvE (owners' association) installation or commercial premises it is different. There, there are requirements on who does the work, and for businesses NEN 3140 also comes into play.
What the insurer looks at
With fire damage, it is investigated where it started. If that turns out to be a connection not made to the standard, the insurer can reduce or reject the payout. That is not about a wrong wire colour, but about things like:
- a circuit protected at a higher rating than the cable can handle
- missing earthing or an earth that is not continuous
- work in a bathroom zone where it is not allowed
- terminals not suitable for the conductors in them
What you can safely do yourself
- replacing a lamp or hanging a light fitting on an existing point
- replacing a socket or switch with the same type, provided the circuit is switched off
- extension leads and plug-in equipment, provided they are tidy and not coiled up under a rug
What you had better leave to a professional
- anything in the consumer unit
- the bathroom, see electrics in the bathroom
- outdoors and in the garden, where moisture and damage play a part
- a cooker circuit or three-phase power
- anything that is concealed and that you cannot get to later
That last one is the most important. A fault in a cable that disappears behind plaster is an expensive search in five years' time.
Did it yourself? Have it tested
If you did the work yourself, have it tested before the walls are closed. I test:
For your own work, this is the best money you will spend on an installer.
- the earth continuity right through to every point
- the insulation resistance per circuit
- the polarity: live and neutral in the right place
- the RCD operation with a test instrument, not with the test button
That takes an hour or two and you get a report that gives you something to show the insurer or a buyer. For your own work, that is the best money you will spend on an installer.
Tools you really need
A pen-type voltage detector is not enough to determine whether something is dead. That takes two measurements with a proper two-pole voltage tester, which you also check yourself before and after. If you do not have one, you should not be working in a consumer unit.
From my own work
A customer had finished off the loft himself with sockets and lighting, neatly done as far as looks go. When tested, the earth conductor turned out not to be looped through anywhere: all the sockets had earth contacts but no earth connected to them. That is exactly the kind of fault nobody sees until it goes wrong. Tested, connected, and put on paper.
When to call an electrician
- You did the work yourself and want it tested
- It concerns the consumer unit, the bathroom or outdoors
- You want a test report for the insurer or for a sale
Testing and recording it takes an hour or two and gives peace of mind. Call +31 43 204 18 26 or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Am I allowed to do electrical work myself in the Netherlands?
In your own home it is not prohibited, but the installation must comply with NEN 1010. Stricter rules apply to rented homes, VvE (owners' association) installations and commercial premises.
What happens with my insurance if I did the work myself?
If, after damage, the work turns out not to meet the standard, an insurer can reduce or reject the claim. A test report is then your evidence.
Can I have my own work tested?
Yes, and do so before the walls are closed. I test earthing, insulation, polarity and RCD operation and put it on paper.
Further reading
What does an electrician cost in 2026? Hourly rate and call-out charge explained
Hourly rate, call-out charge, material margin and VAT, without beating about the bush. Including what I charge myself and why a fixed call-out charge is fairer.
Electrics in the bathroom: what is allowed where
The bathroom is divided into zones. For each zone the standard sets what may be installed and how well it must be protected.
Electrics in a new kitchen: which circuits and where
A modern kitchen easily has four to six circuits. Induction almost always needs its own power circuit.
Questions and comments
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