Hans and Greta seemed like the perfect tenants – friendly, responsible and full of fascinating stories from their life in Holland. But when they suddenly left, their hasty departure and strange behaviour made me wonder what they were hiding in the apartment.
I met Hans and Greta on a rainy Tuesday. The apartment I was trying to rent was in a sorry state due to a water leak. With my approval, the previous tenant had torn out the flooring to prevent mold, leaving only bare concrete. He had then given up and preferred to move out rather than finish the project.
It wasn’t exactly a good first impression for my new potential tenants.
Hans and Greta are not afraid of the apartment’s stripped-down floors | Source: Pexels
Hans and Greta didn’t seem fazed. Hans chuckled, twitching his silver mustache. “It looks like a blank canvas, doesn’t it, Greta?”
She smiled warmly. “Yes, quite an opportunity.”
I was surprised. Most people would have turned and run away. “I know it’s hard,” I began, “but I’m planning on installing new flooring soon. Wood-look laminate strips.”
Hans raised a hand. “No need, sir. We can do it ourselves. We’ll install new flooring.”
I blinked. “Are you sure? That’s a lot of work.”
Greta nodded. “We insist!”
Hans and Greta move in happily | Source: Midjourney
I shrugged. “If you’re sure. I’ll cover the cost of the materials, of course. And I’ll give you a discount on the advertised rent.”
Hans smiled, his eyes shining with an almost childlike excitement. “That’s very generous of you.”
I nodded, already mentally calculating the costs. “I’ll contact some contractors I know and take care of the job. I’ll pay for it directly, you don’t have to worry about any of the expenses.”
Mike assures Hans and Greta that he will cover the cost of the land | Source: Midjourney
Greta patted me on the arm. “You’re very kind, Mike. We’re very grateful.”
I smiled, feeling warmth in his gratitude. “It’s the least I can do. I’ll make some calls today and get things moving.”
I made a few calls to contractors I trusted, arranging delivery and installation of the flooring. The process went smoothly, and Hans and Greta were as involved as they had promised.
They were there throughout, offering tea to the workers and chatting with them like old friends. The transformation was remarkable: from bare concrete to a welcoming and cozy space.
Hans and Greta having tea in their cozy newly built apartment | Source: Midjourney
“That looks fantastic,” I said, admiring the finished work.
Hans nodded with a satisfied smile. “Yeah, right? Thanks again, Mike. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Greta added: “Yes, we really appreciate your help.”
“Glad to do it,” I replied, feeling genuinely pleased with how everything had turned out.
***
Over the next year, Hans and Greta proved to be the best tenants I could have asked for. The rent was always on time, the apartment spotless. I was even invited over for tea frequently.
Mike speaks to his partner Sam, who warns him that the couple might be hiding something | Source: Midjourney
We would sit in their cozy living room and they would tell me stories about their life in Holland, about their children and grandchildren, about their adventures.
One evening, I was talking about them to Sam, another landlord friend of mine. “I’ve never had tenants like Hans and Greta,” I told him. “They’re like the ideal tenants. They even moved in when the house had no land.”
Sam laughed. “Looks like you’ve hit the jackpot. But be careful. Perfect people… sometimes there’s more to the story.”
I dismissed his warning. Hans and Greta were just kind and responsible people, as far as I knew.
Hans and Greta hurriedly packing | Source: Pexels
As the year drew to a close, I noticed a change. Hans and Greta began acting strangely. They no longer invited me in when I was in the building checking out my other apartments. Once, when I walked past, the front door was open and I could see they were packing boxes with anxious urgency.
I asked if everything was okay. Greta smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “We’re getting ready for a trip,” she said.
Hans nodded vigorously. “Yes, a trip. We’ll be back soon.”
But something didn’t fit. They were too rushed, too nervous. I decided to leave it at that, trusting their word.
Mike receiving the keys from Hans, bewildered by his sudden departure | Source: Pexels
Then one day they came to my office and handed me the keys. “We’re leaving,” Hans said, his handshake firmer than ever. “Thanks for everything, Mike.”
I was stunned. “But… why so suddenly?”
Greta looked at me, her eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place. “We’re sorry, Mike. We have to go.”
And they left. I stood there, keys in hand, bewildered. What had happened? Why such a sudden change?
That night I called Sam. “They just got up and left today,” I said, pacing the living room.
“See if they left anything behind,” Sam suggested. “People in a hurry tend to leave things behind. Or take things that don’t belong to them.”
Mike rediscovers bare concrete floor in apartment | Source: Midjourney
The next morning, I walked into the apartment to take a closer look. My heart sank when I saw it: the laminate flooring was completely gone, leaving only bare concrete.
I couldn’t believe it. Shocked and confused, I wondered if they were hiding something or carrying out some strange revenge.
I took a photo of the floor and texted Hans: “Hi Hans, what happened to the floor? Did something happen?” I attached the photo and hit send, my mind full of questions. Were they hiding something? Was this some kind of twisted revenge?
Mike reflecting on Hans’ text message explaining the curious Dutch custom | Source: Midjourney
Hans replied:
Oops, we’re sorry for the confusion! In the Netherlands it’s customary to take your flat with you when you move. We assumed it was the same there, which is why there was no floor when we moved in. We hired a professional removal team to carefully remove the floor and take it away, making sure there was no damage or loud noise.
Hans responding to Mike’s question about the ground | Source: Midjourney
The reason we were in a hurry to leave was that our granddaughter had just given birth, and she needed our help with the baby. It was an emergency delivery, with some complications, and we were very worried. We even almost missed our flight, we were terrified!
We are sorry about the misunderstanding about the flat. We are sorry that we did not have time to explain everything in detail before we left. We hope that we did not cause too much trouble. Please let us make it up to you. Come and visit us in Holland and we will show you our beautiful country. With love, Hans and Greta.
Mike reading Hans’ text message explaining the Dutch custom and his urgent departure | Source: Pexels
I stared at my phone in disbelief. A Dutch custom? I had never heard of such a thing. I didn’t know whether to laugh or get angry. But as I thought about it, I began to understand. Hans and Greta had always been a little quirky, always full of surprises.
I sat there, trying to process it all. I remembered their stories, their kindness, their meticulous care of the apartment. They weren’t malicious, just… different. Cultural differences, I guessed. It made me feel amused, but also relieved.
I replied, “No hard feelings, Hans. Congratulations on your new family member. I’ll have the floor replaced. Take care.” I hit send and felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. It was an odd situation, but it wasn’t worth holding a grudge against.
Mike reads Hans and Greta’s letter inviting him to visit them in Holland | Source: Pexels
Over the next few weeks I replaced the floor, again opting for a wood-look laminate. As the builders finished, I reflected on the time I had spent with Hans and Greta. They had been good tenants, and their departure, though sudden and strange, was not something that soured my memories of them.
One day a letter arrived. It was from Hans and Greta. Inside was a heartfelt message. They thanked me for my understanding and hospitality, and invited me to visit them in Holland. They wrote about their beautiful country, hoping that I would come see it for myself and reconnect.
I smiled as I read the letter. The idea of visiting Holland, of seeing where Hans and Greta came from, sounded appealing. Despite the strange ending to their stay, I felt a deep connection with them. Their peculiarities and traditions made them unique, and I appreciated that.
Mike smiling as he thinks of Hans and Greta | Source: Midjourney
Life went on, but I often thought of Hans and Greta fondly. I found myself smiling at their memories, their warm hospitality, and their fascinating stories. The initial surprise and confusion had faded, replaced by a feeling of gratitude for having met them.
Over time, I began to plan a trip to Holland. The idea of meeting Hans and Greta again, of seeing their country through their eyes, filled me with enthusiasm. Their invitation had awakened in me a curiosity, a desire to better understand their culture.
Mike takes care of replacing the floor | Source: Pexels
The story of Hans and Greta, from my surprise at their offer to install the floor to the shock of discovering it had gone missing, had become a fond memory. It reminded me of the richness of the human experience, the beauty of cultural differences, and the unexpected bonds we form.
What would you have done? If you liked this story, here’s another one about a man who sold his late grandfather’s house for next to nothing, not knowing what was hiding in the basement.
This work is inspired by real people and events, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, or real events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher do not guarantee the accuracy of events or the depiction of characters, and are not responsible for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and the opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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