Dutch Quirk #134: Rent apartments with no curtains or floors

It’s well-known that the Dutch traditionally opt for a curtain-less existence, but did you know about their floor-less lifestyle?🧐

Renting in the Netherlands as an international can be surprising — some essentials might be missing.

You’ll spot the living room setup right through the open windows, but step inside and… the floor might be gone too.

What is it?

Need a quick Dutch rental tip? Kaal (“bald”) means an empty home — no floors, curtains, lights, or furniture. 🏚️

No wonder tourists find it voyeuristic to stroll past curtain-less windows and peek into people’s lives.

However, fewer people may notice apartments lacking flooring, especially during moves.

Why the disappearing floors? Previous tenants took them along — but it’s not because they’re clingy with their carpets.

Why do they do it?

The most popular explanation for Dutch openness traces back to Calvinism, which values honest living and having nothing to hide.

Others say that it’s an attitude thing: the Dutch desire to create gezelligheid (cosiness) or even to show off possessions…😉

READ MORE | Pillarisation — or why do the Dutch have big windows

Others question whether the often-grey Dutch skies have something to do with it. Cutting out curtains certainly maximises your Vitamin D intake!☀️

As a people-watcher myself, I think it’s more of a you-scratch-my-back-I’ll-scratch-yours approach to living. AKA, the Dutchies enjoy observing the observers!

When it comes to carpeting, the reason is much more straight-“floor”-ward.

Since rentals in the Netherlands are usually long-term, flooring often becomes outdated — removing it spares new tenants the hassle and gives them a fresh start to make the space their own. ✨

It might seem like a lot at first, but at least you’re not stuck with decades-old décor!

Why is it quirky? 

Wide-open windows may baffle outsiders, but for the Dutch, openness is just part of the culture — practically furniture.

What does raise eyebrows? The piles of laminate left outside.👀

READ MORE | 9 kooky things about renting in the Netherlands

Perhaps the strangest part is the insistence: there are regulations in place when it comes to floor removals. 

Surely young renters or students would appreciate a nice free floor in perfectly good condition? No, it’ll be going with its owners by law.

Should you join in? 

Flexibility isn’t an option for floors in the Netherlands: If you brought your own floor when you move in, you must — yes, must — take the flooring with you, even if you’ll never use it again!

Meanwhile, going curtain-less is more of a personal choice, and you can still go for a more private lifestyle if you’d like. 🤫

More curtains and blinds are appearing in Dutch windows — a shift locals say might be driven by young people and internationals closing the curtain on the once-famous openness.

What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!👇