First "KLIP", Then Dig: Prevent a Financial Crater in your Garden

You know the feeling: the sun is shining, the excavator is ready, and that new driveway or dream terrace is finally happening. But before you put that first shovel (or bucket) in the ground, there is one question you must ask yourself: "What’s actually under here?"

Hitting a Telenet cable, a water pipe, or—heaven forbid—a gas line happens faster than you think. And the consequences? They are often staggering.

The Great Misconception: "But it's my own land, right?"

Many homeowners and even experienced contractors fall into the same trap: they think they only need to request plans for work on public property. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In Flanders, you are legally required to request plans via KLIP (Kabel- en Leidinginformatieportaal) for all earthworks, whether on public or private land. These plans show all known underground utilities that could turn your project into a minefield.

When do you need to request these plans?

It goes beyond just digging a deep hole. You must request plans for activities including:

• Construction and Demolition: Including the installation of drainage pipes.
• Landscaping: Installing a fence (driving in posts) or planting deep-rooting trees.
• Earthmoving: Changing the ground profile or stacking heavy objects.
• Heavy Traffic: When operating heavy machinery outside of paved roads.

The role of your Insurance (and why this can't hurt)

This is the part where we, as your broker, have to be firm. If you start digging without consulting the KLIP plans and you hit a line, you have a problem with your insurer.

Because you ignored a legal obligation, the insurer can refuse to intervene. This means the thousands of euros in damage to the utilities, as well as the consequential damages (imagine an entire street without internet or gas), come directly out of your own pocket.

Our Advice: A KLIP request costs you about €10. That is a pittance compared to the tens of thousands of euros in claims you risk.

Getting started soon?

Check https://klip.vlaanderen.be/public or explicitly ask your contractor for the plans.