before.
Most basement owners have installed steel grates to protect pedestrians, preventing them from falling into the basement trap (in Dutch koekoek). However, these constructions do not offer a good solution for dirt and vermin. This means that the windows of the basement remain closed and the koekoek must be cleaned regularly to prevent blockages, which can lead to great annoyance. Personally, I was tired of cleaning my koekoek regularly and at a certain point you don't do it anymore, with the result that when it rains I had flooding and rats found it a pleasant environment.