The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

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- Definition

Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Voting ownership percent.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its limited partnership investments to which the equity method of accounting is applied

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The length of delay between receiving the statement relating to net asset values and reporting of the investment in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Investments in and advance to affiliates, subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures, at cost

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Limited Partnership Net Capital Contributions (Distributions)

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Percentage of Assignor's interest assumed in Aquiline Financial Services Fund II LP

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of capital commitment in a limited partnership that is also a related party.

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	vr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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Investments (Investments in affiliates) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 07, 2014	Oct. 02, 2014	Dec. 20, 2011	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment affiliate, beginning of year							$ 87,673					$ 87,673
(Loss) income from investment affiliates				$ 2,166	$ 453	$ (589)	(4,113)	$ (1,261)	$ 2,482	$ 284	$ 2,776	(2,083)	$ 4,281	$ 8,411
Investment affiliate, end of year				100,431				87,673				100,431	87,673
Investments in investment affiliates, at cost				84,840				69,794				$ 84,840	69,794
Aquiline Financial Services Fund II LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment time lag reporting												3 months
Related Party Transaction Assumption Of Interest Percentage												100.00%
Capital commitment		$ 10,000	$ 50,000
Aquiline Financial Services Fund III LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Capital commitment	$ 100,000
Investment Affiliates [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment affiliate, beginning of year							87,673				$ 63,506	$ 87,673	63,506
Net capital contributions												14,841	19,886
(Loss) income from investment affiliates												(2,083)	4,281
Investment affiliate, end of year				100,431				87,673				100,431	87,673	$ 63,506
Investments in investment affiliates, at cost				84,840				69,794				84,840	69,794
Investment Affiliates [Member] \| Aquiline Financial Services Fund II LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment affiliate, beginning of year							73,880					73,880
Investment affiliate, end of year				$ 61,999				$ 73,880				$ 61,999	$ 73,880
Voting ownership %				0.00%				0.00%				0.00%	0.00%
Equity ownership %				8.10%				8.10%				8.10%	8.10%
Investments in investment affiliates, at cost				$ 46,871				$ 55,904				$ 46,871	$ 55,904
Investment Affiliates [Member] \| Aquiline Financial Services Fund III LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment affiliate, beginning of year							$ 13,793					13,793
Investment affiliate, end of year				$ 38,432				$ 13,793				$ 38,432	$ 13,793
Voting ownership %				0.00%				0.00%				0.00%	0.00%
Equity ownership %				9.00%				13.70%				9.00%	13.70%
Investments in investment affiliates, at cost				$ 37,969				$ 13,890				$ 37,969	$ 13,890