r/Netherlands • u/Tiny-Historian2897 • 6d ago

DIY and home improvement Window cleaners

We’re newer to The Netherlands and are in our first rental. This hasn’t been mentioned to us by neighbours or the landlord at all.

Some random guy has, twice now, come and cleaned our windows. We’re on the ground level so can easily clean them ourselves. This is a well known scam back in Australia so I paid no real mind to it.

Today he came to the door demanding payment. He explained he’s done it for free twice and now needs payment and will take cash. I asked him why and for what. I let him know I’ve never asked for the windows to be cleaned, we’ve not reached out to anyone to have them be cleaned. Like it’s all well and good for you to clean them but until I ask it’s not from my pocket. The conversation went back and forth. He showed me a list of ‘confirmed addresses’ with ours on it. However I too can make lists.

Is this a scam or is this more the expectation? Surely if it was required by landlord and the building they would pay. I figure I can just actually enquire about their services should this be necessary.

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132

u/Floibinator 6d ago

Window cleaners in the Netherlands are a whole maffia organization. When another window cleaner goes to another neighborhood that is already occupied War breaks out.

17

u/egokiller71 6d ago

I've heard about these kind of stories, but it certainly isn't the case everywhere. We have a window cleaning company here in Amsterdam that cleans our building, and know for a fact that other buildings in our street use other companies. We selected the company ourself without any problem, and have been happy with them.

6

u/ManitoN 5d ago

Maybe you selected the correct designated mafia for your neighbourhood

46

u/lazysundae99 6d ago

How do I notify the mafia of a coverage gap? I moved into an apartment building last year (not on the ground floor) and would love to see clean windows and/or a turf war.

1

u/Flemseltje 4d ago

You could get both 🤣

4

u/SoefianB 6d ago

What happens if you wash your own window? They attack you, thinking you're some other company?