A recently developed set of historical storm reconstructions, which were extensively validated by insurance loss data, revealed how European windstorm damages were three times higher in the 1980s and '90s compared to a few decades before and since. A better understanding of these slower fluctuations could improve how this costly risk is managed. Here, we explore the impacts of anthropogenic aerosols (AA) on European property damage using results from DAMIP (Detection and Attribution Model Intercomparison Project) climate model experiments. Multimodel mean DAMIP results indicate AA boosted European wind losses by 45 % in the late 20th century relative to preindustrial times, with the signal varying from zero to 100 % between the six models. A review of results from previous climate studies suggested the signal is more likely to be at the higher end of this range, though significant uncertainties remain. The results indicate AA forcing could have been a major driver of recent multidecadal changes in European windstorm losses. Further research into observational and modelling uncertainties would benefit those exposed to this risk.