Nationaal Keurmerk Letselschade: what does the certification really mean?
If you are looking for help after an accident, you will come across many logos and trademarks on the websites of personal injury firms. Most of these mean very little. The Nationaal Keurmerk Letselschade (NKL) (National Personal Injury Certification) is one of the few that is based on a real assessment.
The certification is managed by De Letselschade Raad (The Personal Injury Council) and is intended to make the quality of services recognizable for people with personal injury.
Actual checks are carried out
What sets the NKL apart from a self-designed logo is the audit cycle. This consists of one on-site audit every three years and one interim assessment after eighteen months.
This interim assessment is not a formality. It includes a measurement of process performance, a substantive evaluation of a number of files – including on attitude and behavior – and a discussion with management. This means that real files are reviewed to see how victims have been treated.
Who assesses and who decides
The audits are carried out by external auditors accredited by De Letselschade Raad, including Q-Consult Insurance, the Stichting Toetsing Verzekeraars (Insurance Assessment Foundation), and LSA auditors. Each organization is responsible for arranging its own audit cycle.
The roles are deliberately separated: the auditor has an assessing role, while De Letselschade Raad has a granting role. The Council makes the decision on granting or continuing the certification based on the audit. If an organization fails, it can lose the certification.
Aspiring member or full member
A new organization starts as an aspiring member. This membership lasts eighteen months. After this period, there is a discussion and, if the advice is positive, the membership is converted to a full NKL membership, after which the organization participates in the regular audit cycle with on-site audits.
For you as a client, this means that “affiliated with the certification” can refer to either an aspiring or a full member. The register of De Letselschade Raad shows which category a firm falls into.
Check the register, not the website
A logo on a website is not the same as a valid registration. The public register of De Letselschade Raad is the only reliable source: it shows which firms currently hold the certification. If a firm is not listed there while the logo appears on its website, this is a reason to ask further questions.
What the certification is not
The NKL provides information about the process and treatment, not about the outcome of your case or the amount of your compensation. A certified firm can lose a case, and a firm without certification can do excellent work. Consider it a minimum standard in quality assurance, not a guarantee.
The certification is closely linked to the Gedragscode Behandeling Letselschade (Code of Conduct for Personal Injury Handling): this code describes the standard, while the certification assesses whether it is being followed.
Choosing a service provider
Not sure who to engage? On our page about personal injury, you can read what we look for. Also see: the role of the medical advisor in personal injury cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nationaal Keurmerk Letselschade (National Personal Injury Quality Mark)?
A quality mark from De Letselschade Raad (Personal Injury Council) that makes the quality of personal injury services recognizable. Unlike a self-designed logo, it is based on a real, periodic audit.
How often is a quality mark holder audited?
The audit cycle consists of one on-site audit every three years plus one interim assessment after one and a half years, including a measurement of process performance, a substantive review of case files focusing on attitude and conduct, and a discussion with management.
Who conducts the audits?
External auditors accredited by De Letselschade Raad, including Q-Consult Insurance, the Stichting Toetsing Verzekeraars (Insurance Assessment Foundation), and LSA auditors. The auditor assesses; De Letselschade Raad decides on granting or continuing the quality mark.
What does aspiring membership mean?
A new organization starts as an aspiring member for eighteen months. After this period, a discussion follows and, if the advice is positive, the membership is converted to full membership with on-site audits.
Does the quality mark guarantee a good outcome for my case?
No. It provides insight into the process and treatment, not the outcome or the amount of your compensation. Always check the public register rather than relying on the logo on a website.
Finding a certified firm in Leiden
The register of De Letselschade Raad is national: there is no separate Leiden register. This means that when choosing a firm, you weigh two things at the same time – is it listed in the register, and is it practically accessible from Leiden?
If you want to independently verify whether a firm that promotes itself actually holds the certification, residents of Leiden can turn to Het Juridisch Loket Leiden (the Legal Aid Desk) (Langegracht 70, 2312 NV Leiden) free of charge, telephone 0900-8020. See het juridisch loket leiden.
Keep in mind that a legal procedure does not take place at the firm but at the court of your own district. For Leiden, this is the Rechtbank Den Haag (district court), Prins Clauslaan 60, 2595 AJ Den Haag. A service provider who regularly appears there will be familiar with the procedures. See rechtspraak.nl.
If, in addition to your personal injury, you are also dealing with a municipal provision – such as transport, home help, or home modifications – this will be handled by the Gemeente Leiden: leiden.nl. A certified firm should guide you through this process rather than referring you and leaving you to manage on your own.
This information is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice about your personal situation. Verified in August 2026 based on the publications of De Letselschade Raad regarding the Nationaal Keurmerk Letselschade.