In this busy day and age, a forest retreat in Sweden run by two chefs sounds about as peaceful and divine as it could be, and for those who get the chance to invest that money in mental health and wellbeing it is worth it. But even a dream location can become a nightmare when the wrong people are involved and that is what happened with this real retreat run by two chefs when they closed and left abruptly amongst accusations of fraud and leaving behind 158 barrels of human waste.
But first, let us start from the beginning of the story, because how such an idyllic sounding place can turn so sour is a long story.
The Swedish retreat that turned a nightmare
Danish chefs Flemming Hansen and Mette Helbæk launched their nature-focused getaway, Stedsans, in the Halland region of southern Sweden after leaving behind their urban lifestyle in Copenhagen, where they previously operated a trendy rooftop restaurant. The retreat, consisting of 16 wooden cabins nestled in a natural setting, quickly gained attention and acclaim from influencers and critics alike, earning descriptions such as “luxurious” and “captivating.”
It started in 2016, when the couple left Denmark amidst accusation of tax evasion, allegedly owing the authorities millions of kroner, but the retreat seemed to be a way to redeem themselves.
It did last a while, eight years total, but just a few months ago the couple abandoned the retreat amidst new accusations of tax fraud, This time they allegedly owed the Swedish authorities 6 million SEK and when they left, authorities sent in to clear the area found a very disgusting surprise in the form of 158 barrels of human waste, waste water running into the forest and multiple animals dead that were abandoned outside after they vanished.
In a message posted on their website, they said: “We came very far with Stedsans, but we also had to realize on the way that being soul-driven entrepreneurs on a mission in a country where taxes are some of the highest in the world and bureaucracy is relentless, is an impossible task. At least it was for us. We tried all the way up until the end to make it work. But finally our debt from our start-up years full of broken promises from the authorities and the 2 years with Corona-closed borders caught up on us. When you read this we have probably been declared bankrupt by the Swedish tax authorities.“
Not only did the couple not take ownership of the declared “environmental crime” they left behind, but they are already living in Guatemala, where the government has confirmed that they have opened another business.
When contacted about the state they left the property in and asked about their debt with the tax agency in Sweden, Hansen dismissed concerns about his treatment of animals and turned his criticism toward Swedish tax officials, referring to them as a “narcissistic entity.” He acknowledged a debt of over 7 million SEK and expressed a sense of resignation, saying he now faced a future “sentenced to a life in poverty”.
The Guardian reached out to tax officials in both Denmark and Sweden. While the Danish agency declined to provide details, citing confidentiality rules, their Swedish counterparts chose not to issue any statement regarding the matter, but it is understood that oth debts are being pursued by the relevant authorities.
Having said that, their move to Guatemala was a smart choice all things considered, as the country does not have a set extradition treaty with either Sweden or Denmark, meaning the government would have to petition for their imprisonment and deportation, which would give them enough time to move once again.