Can I access my money in an emergency?

A lijfrente is fiscally locked until your retirement date, so in principle no. There are two exceptions: with long-term incapacity for work you can have it paid out early, and separate rules apply on emigration.

If you do surrender it, the Dutch tax authority treats this as negative uitgaven voor inkomensvoorzieningen: you repay the deduction you previously received and usually pay 20% revisierente on top. So only contribute money you can spare, and calculate your buffer first.