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In brief

Foreword

Foreword

The cover of this annual report features a work of art by Joana Schneider that can be admired at our recently renovated DELA Maaslanden crematorium in Nieuwkuijk. The work is made of recycled rope from the fishing industry, a material with a long history that, through bundling, knotting, and coiling, is given new form and relevance.

That idea resonates with DELA Natura. For nearly 90 years now, we have continued to change and adapt in the knowledge that we play an important role in society by making a thoughtful, dignified, and colourful funeral financially possible for everyone. Because we want to stand strong as a modern organisation that is relevant to its policyholders in 90 years from now as well. Just like the recycled rope that retains its essence but in a new form, we continue to reshape the future on the basis of our trusted values.

Review

The past five years were devoted to strengthening and developing our organisation. We consolidated our position through the integration of Yarden. We continued to grow internationally as well, which increased our scale of operations and enabled us to reach more people.

This course was maintained in 2025. We closed another strong financial year and passed the one million mark for the number of people we insure in Belgium. In total, we now insure 5.6 million people. Customer satisfaction remains high, and our reputation strong, which underlines the trust in our organisation.

Challenges of today and tomorrow

The market is changing at a rapid pace. In all the countries where we operate, we see changing customer needs and societal trends that place demands on our products and services: more personalisation, greater transparency, and affordability. These changes have an impact on our costs, our scale, and our employees.

We saw a decrease in employee satisfaction last year. Nevertheless, we can still compete with the top of the labour market, and we continue to invest in a healthy, safe, inclusive, and pleasant working environment where colleagues feel seen, heard, and supported. Only then can they remain relevant to policyholders and our suppliers

Continuous development

We are aware the people see funeral insurance as more than just a product. It is a promise to their loved ones that everything is all set for the future. That is why we continue to improve our insurance solutions with accessible products that are tailored to different stages of life and changing circumstances – with affordability remaining a key driver.

New strategic course

In 2025, we rounded off an important phase: the development of our new strategic course. While we at DELA Natura continue to provide funeral insurance as our basis, we are strengthening our services to address the well-being of our customers. We are also fast-tracking innovation so that our services better meet the needs of today and tomorrow. And we are taking extra steps to support customers in their well-being in the period before, during, and after a loved one dies.

Just like the work of art on the cover, we continue to adapt to a changing world by building on a strong core. We as an organisation have long-term obligations, and we want people to be able to count on us in 90 years from now as well. That calls for developing and moving in the same direction together – so that we at DELA stay relevant to everyone who trusts in us.

Eindhoven, 22 April 2026

The Management Board
Sandra Schellekens
Godelieve van Velsen

This is an English translation of the original Dutch text. In case of any conflict between this translation and the original text, the latter will prevail.

Key figures

Key figures

Financial

  2025 2024 2023 2022 2021
           
Premium income          
x €1,000. After deduction of reinsurance premium          
Funeral insurance, Netherlands 439,802 418,456 392,764 382,553 324,638
Leefdoorplan, Netherlands (life insurance) 28,541 29,299 29,683 30,052 30,309
Spaarplan, Netherlands (savings-linked insurance) 42,115 44,393 58,303 75,004 79,571
Total Netherlands 510,458 492,148 480,749 487,609 434,518
Belgium 181,501 173,130 161,889 146,089 136,258
Germany 82,545 78,663 70,063 35,313 21,696
Total 774,505 743,941 712,701 669,011 592,472
           
Insured capital          
x €1 million          
Insured capital 83,510 79,773 78,605 72,970 68,678
           
Distribution of investment income          
x €1,000          
Net investment result 554,629 579,703 365,104 -779,028 644,989
Less: for future insurance claims* -220,581 -204,959 -189,851 -178,841 -160,094
Remaining for financial position** 334,048 374,744 175,253 -957,869 484,895
           
Profit share          
x €1,000          
Profit share 264,798 281,247 249,224 43,654 5,940
           
Balance sheet          
x €1 million          
Total assets** 10,652 10,131 9,362 8,797 9,490
Value of investments 10,325 9,802 9,053 8,483 9,265
Technical provision** 9,154 8,580 8,021 7,532 7,172
Equity** 1,158 1,088 915 921 1,683
... as percentage of technical provision 13% 13% 11% 12% 23%
           
Coverage ratio          
Average coverage ratio*** 198% 217% 251% 195% 129%
           
Solvency          
Solvency II ratio 213% 201% 207% 221% 244%

Non-financial

  2025 2024 2023 2022 2021
           
Reputation*          
StakeholderWatch pulse          
Netherlands 74 74 72 66 63
Belgium 71 67 63 - -
Group 73 71 68 66 63
           
Customer satisfaction, insurance          
NPS          
Netherlands 44 47 44 46 51
Belgium 64 61 59 60 58
Germany 57 49 53 51 49
Group 60 58 56 57 56
           
Customer satisfaction, customer service          
NPS          
Netherlands 43 46 43 45 39
Belgium 66 63 60 59 68
Group 51 50 49 50 57
           
Insured persons          
Number at year-end          
Netherlands 4,261,896 4,277,150 4,296,572 4,295,361 4,287,483
Belgium 1,003,296 977,541 947,996 928,029 908,822
Germany 341,202 321,551 294,373 266,072 103,786
Total 5,606,394 5,576,242 5,538,941 5,489,462 5,300,091
           
Employee satisfaction          
eNPS          
Netherlands 30 44 36 44 51
Belgium 54 54 57 53 54
Germany 10 10 8 - -
Total 31 43 38 45 52
           
Employees          
FTEs, year-end          
Netherlands 533 513 487 480 406
Belgium 94 103 92 94 95
Germany 55 54 45 38 28
Total 682 670 623 612 529