Belgium occupies a unique position in Europe: 16.3 billion euros in annual transactions by 2023 according to Fevad, and the world's undisputed diamond capital with Antwerp concentrating 80% of the world's rough diamond trade.
Yet this economic wealth comes up against a frustrating logistical reality: BPost and PostNL, the benchmark carriers, offer parcel insurance that is ill-suited to the high value-added sectors for which Belgium is renowned.
An Antwerp diamond dealer shipping a €25,000 stone to Paris? BPost excludes him from its coverage. A Brussels jeweler delivering a custom-made €8,000 necklace to Switzerland? PostNL caps it at €500. An e-tailer from Ghent developing his European export? Compensation delays of 30+ days are crippling his cash flow.
Faced with these structural limitations, Belgian professionals are discovering that specialist insurance is no longer an option, but a strategic necessity if they are to remain competitive.
The Belgian Market: Between Heritage and Digital Innovation
Antwerp, World Diamond Epicenter
Antwerp is home to 4 of the world's 29 diamond bourses, and to a hundred or so De Beers preferred buyers. This exceptional concentration generates high-value logistics flows on a daily basis:
- 1,500 diamond dealers active in the historic district
- 84% of the world's rough diamonds transit through Antwerp
- Average transactions: €15,000 to €500,000 per shipment
- Priority destinations: New York, Mumbai, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong
The Belgian Jewellery Ecosystem
Beyond Antwerp, Belgium cultivates a centuries-old tradition in the luxury trades:
Brussels: 280+ jewelry workshops, specializing in made-to-measure creations
Gand: Export to Nordic markets (watches, contemporary jewelry)
Liège: "Art & Luxury" cluster with 150 certified craftsmen
Logistics challenges: These professionals ship 65% of their production to the EU (find our shipping tips here), generating a critical need fortransport insurance adapted to precious goods.
Belgian E-commerce: Growth and Challenges
Key data 2025 :
- 16.3 billion in e-commerce transactions
- +10.7% post-COVID growth
- 78% of orders > €100 (Europe's highest average basket)
- Driving sectors for physical goods: fashion/luxury (32%), high-tech (28%), art/antiques (15%)
Transport issues: This move upmarket exposes Belgian e-tailers to financial risks that traditional transport insurance no longer effectively covers.
Comprehensive comparison: Belgian vs. specialized solutions
Insurance Solutions Master Chart
Analysis by Value Band
Parcels €1,000-5,000 (common jewelry) :
- BPost : €42-210 insurance, jewelry exclusions
- PostNL : capped at €500 = illusory protection
- Claisy: €7.5-37.50, full coverage
Packages €5,000-20,000 (luxury watches, medium diamonds) :
- BPost : capped at €7,500 = insufficient
- DHL/UPS: €180-440, long lead times and luxury goods generally excluded
- Claisy : <200€, indemnisation express
Packages €20,000-100,000 (large diamonds, exceptional pieces) :
- Belgian carriers: No solution
- DHL: €900+, complex process
- Claisy : <1 000€, simplicité maximale
BPost : National supply under pressure
The Basic "Guarantee": Mirage at €10/kg
BPost applies the CMR Agreement Convention (limited liability), which provides compensation of around €10 per kilogram in the event of a claim.
Case in point:
- Omega Seamaster watch (value: €3,500, weight: 200g)
- CMR compensation: €2 maximum
- Actual loss: €3,498 for the shipper
This basic coverage turns every valuable shipment into a ruinous financial gamble.
Tailor-made insurance: costly and restrictive
To make up for this shortcoming, BPost offers "tailor-made" ad valorem insurance with prohibitive conditions:
Pricing structure :
- Cost: 4.2% of declared value (among the highest in Europe)
- Limit : €7,500 maximum per package
- Compensation lead times: 30 days "at best" (often 45-60 actual days)
Calculation for a €5,000 parcel:
- BPost insurance: €210 (4.2%)
- Alternative Claisy : <50€ (<1%)
- Savings: >€160 per shipment
Exclusions that kill
The list of goods excluded from BPost insurance strikes at the heart of Belgian specialization:
❌ Totally excluded :
- Jewelry and precious objects
- Diamonds and precious stones
- Works of art and collectibles
- Luxury watches (>€1,000)
- Precious metals in any form
Result: the sectors that make Belgium rich are systematically excluded from BPost protection.
PostNL : The Disappointing Cross-Border Alternative
The Double Pricing Trap
PostNL applies a discriminatory policy depending on the country of dispatch, which penalizes Belgian professionals:
This disparity in treatment creates an unjustifiable competitive distortion between Belgian and Dutch companies.
The "Insurance" Service: Illusory Protection
The €2.50 PostNL pay option hides some major contractual pitfalls:
TRAP No. 1: Purchase invoice Limit - Compensation cannot exceed the value indicated on the purchase invoice, even if you have declared a higher value.
TRAP #2: Lost shipping costs - In the event of a claim, PostNL never reimburses shipping costs, amplifying your financial loss.
TRICK #3: Sectoral exclusions - Same logic as BPost : jewelry, diamonds, works of art systematically excluded.
DHL Express and UPS: Giants with Feet of Clay
DHL Express: Power and Slowness
Undeniable advantages:
- Limit up to €100,000 (suitable for premium transactions)
- Worldwide coverage with no geographical restrictions
- Leading logistics network
Critical drawbacks :
- Cost: ~1% of value (€200 for a €20,000 parcel)
- Claims lead times: 60-75 days minimum
- Rigidity: insurance necessarily linked to DHL transport
UPS Worldwide: The Expensive Alternative
Performance:
- Limit €40,000 (not enough for large diamonds)
- Cost ~1% of declared value
- Compensation period ~77 days
Structural limitation: Like DHL, UPS ties its insurance to the exclusive use of its transport services, reducing operational flexibility.
Specificities of Traditional Belgian Sectors
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Why Claisy is revolutionizing parcel insurance in Belgium
1. Total Logistics Flexibility
Unlike the giants who impose their transport network, Claisy adapts to your choices:
- BPost for domestic economy
- DHL Express for urgent international deliveries
- UPS for specific destinations
- PostNL for Benelux flows
Competitive advantage: You optimize cost/service on a shipment-by-shipment basis, while maintaining uniform insurance coverage.
2. Revolutionary speed of compensation
Process Claisy vs:
Cash flow impact: 45-75 day difference = major competitive advantage for SMEs.
3. Expertise Value Sectors
Specialized teams :
- Diamond : Process knowledge GIA, HRD, valuation
- Jewelry : Precious metals expertise, unique pieces
- Watchmaking: Mastery certifications, vintage watches
- Art/Antiques : Expertise and authentication procedures
In concrete terms: Your files are handled by experts who speak your language, not by generalists.
4. Transparent and competitive pricing
Grille Claisy (Belgium preferential rates) :
- 0-10,000€: 0.75% of declared value
- 10,000-50,000€: 0.65% declining balance
- 50,000-100,000€: 0.55% + dedicated support
Comparison for €20,000 in monthly shipments:
- BPost : €840/month (4.2%)
- DHL: from €200/month (1% - for shipments over €1,200)
- Claisy: €150/month (0.75%)
- Annual savings: €2,760 to €8,520
Conclusion: Parcel Insurance Rethought for Belgian Excellence
Belgium deserves better than the structural limitations of BPost and PostNL. With 80% of the world's diamond trade, 280 jewelry workshops and 12.8 billion in e-commerce, our economy and customers demand insurance solutions that match this excellence.
BPost capped at €7,500 with jewelry exclusions, PostNL discriminates against Belgian shippers at €500, DHL and UPS with lead times of 60+ days: these outdated solutions hamper the competitiveness of our companies.
Claisy revolutionizes this equation:
- 100,000€ coverage for 95% of business needs
- Compensation 48-72h vs 30-77 days competition
- Coût <1% vs 2-4% transporteurs traditionnels
- Total flexibility: your Carrier, our protection
3 actions to transform your logistics :
- Calculate your exposure: current risks not covered
- Try Claisy without obligation on shipments >€1,000
- Measure the impact: savings + claims responsiveness
Belgian excellence deserves an assurance of excellence. It's time to act.