Fatum, fate
Founded in 1899, accident insurance company Fatum aimed to provide coverage for damages resulting from workplace accidents. While not yet mandatory, employers took out the insurance, as they were liable for accidents of their employees.
The name Fatum, meaning ‘fate’, captured the company’s essence—acknowledging that while fate itself could not be avoided, its consequences could be mitigated with good insurance. Advertising played a major role at Fatum. Its earliest advertisement from 1905 depicted an angel holding a palm branch and a worker at her feet. The angel protected the insured and the palm branch represented gratitude.
A few years later, the message became even more poignant. In a poster by artist Albert Hahn Sr. a grieving woman clutches her hair in despair—a vivid representation of the devastating consequences of accidents.
By 1926, Fatum’s message was even bolder: a poster illustrated the Sword of Damocles hanging over a city, accompanied by the warning: ‘An accident hangs like a sword over your head at all times and everywhere. Therefore, insure yourself with the accident-insurance-co-Fatum'.
In 1917, Fatum was acquired by De Nederlanden van 1845, though it kept its original name. In 1980, Fatum was relaunched as Nationale-Nederlanden Fatum Schadeverzekeringen (non-life) in Suriname and Curaçao, and in 2000, this company was sold.
The end of Fatum, but certainly not of fate.
