Insurance Contracts - Summary of Insurance Contracts for General Account (Detail) - EUR (€) € in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of insurance contracts for general account [Line Items]
- Unearned premiums and unexpired risks	€ 5,341	€ 5,447
- Outstanding claims	2,338	2,206
- Incurred but not reported claims	820	830
Incoming reinsurance	4,377	3,913
- Accident and health insurance	115,294	110,818
Non-life insurance [member]
Disclosure of insurance contracts for general account [Line Items]
- Accident and health insurance	8,499	8,484	€ 9,066
Non-life insurance [member] \| Accident and health insurance [member]
Disclosure of insurance contracts for general account [Line Items]
- Accident and health insurance	8,247	8,225
Non-life insurance [member] \| General insurance [member]
Disclosure of insurance contracts for general account [Line Items]
- Accident and health insurance	252	259
Life insurance general account [member]
Disclosure of insurance contracts for general account [Line Items]
- Accident and health insurance	€ 102,418	€ 98,422	€ 105,763

Disclosure of insurance contracts for general account.

No definition available.

Name:	aeg_DisclosureOfInsuranceContractsForGeneralAccountLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	aeg_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Incoming reinsurance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeg_IncomingReinsurance
Namespace Prefix:	aeg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of liability for insured events that have occurred but for which claims have yet not been reported by policyholders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Note Expiry date 2021-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph IG22
-Subparagraph c
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_IG22_c&doctype=Implementation%20Guidance&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Note Expiry date 2021-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 37
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_37_b&doctype=Standard&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClaimsIncurredButNotReported
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of liability for claims reported by policyholders as the result of the occurrence of insured events. [Refer: Types of insurance contracts [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Note Expiry date 2021-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph IG22
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_IG22_b&doctype=Implementation%20Guidance&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Note Expiry date 2021-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 37
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_37_b&doctype=Standard&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClaimsReportedByPolicyholders
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of liabilities under insurance contracts and reinsurance contracts issued. [Refer: Types of insurance contracts [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Note Expiry date 2021-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 37
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_37_b&doctype=Standard&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Note Expiry date 2021-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 37
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_37_e&doctype=Standard&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Note Expiry date 2021-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph IG20
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_IG20_a&doctype=Implementation%20Guidance&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Note Expiry date 2021-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph IG37
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_IG37_a&doctype=Implementation%20Guidance&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Note Expiry date 2021-01-01
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 55
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_55&doctype=Standard&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_LiabilitiesArisingFromInsuranceContracts
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of liability for written premiums on insurance contracts that have not yet been earned. [Refer: Types of insurance contracts [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Note Expiry date 2021-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph IG22
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_IG22_a&doctype=Implementation%20Guidance&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Note Expiry date 2021-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 4
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 37
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=4&date=2018-03-02&anchor=para_37_b&doctype=Standard&book=b
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_UnearnedPremiums
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_TypesOfInsuranceContractsAxis=ifrs-full_NonlifeInsuranceContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_AmountsArisingFromInsuranceContractsAxis=aeg_AccidentAndHealthInsuranceContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_AmountsArisingFromInsuranceContractsAxis=aeg_GeneralInsuranceContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_TypesOfInsuranceContractsAxis=ifrs-full_LifeInsuranceContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: