A detective recounts the discovery of a Polish man’s body in a dilapidated mansion in The Hague, a scene that felt like a macabre movie set due to the surreal details and Art Nouveau surroundings. The incident, which occurred nearly twenty years ago, left a lasting impression on the detective, particularly due to the contrast between the grim discovery and the anticipation of his first child’s birth.

The detective, during a night shift, responded to a call about a hanging in the Van Merlenstraat, an area known for its once-grand but then-dilapidated mansions. Upon arriving at the scene, the detective and an intern were met by six apprehensive police officers. The interior of the house reeked of paint and revealed the chaotic living space of an artist, with unfinished paintings, easels, and empty vodka bottles scattered throughout.

The body was found hanging behind an open bedroom door, illuminated by the moonlight. The corpse, which had been hanging for an estimated three to four months, had one half of its face mummified by drafts from a broken window, while the other half was decayed, exposing the skull. Rats had also scavenged the body, adding to the gruesome scene. The detective then summoned forensic investigators and a coroner, and then went to retrieve the key to the mortuary.

The detective remembers that the cinematic atmosphere of the old mansion, with its Art Nouveau details and stained-glass windows, heightened the surreal nature of the experience. The mortuary, a small stone room with a medieval marble examination table, further contributed to the eerie setting. The coroner and forensic photographer, after examining the body, echoed the sentiment that the night felt unusually macabre.

The detective shared the story with the watch commander during the morning shift handover, both to recount the unusual event and to process the experience. The suicide, along with another case involving a family member, remained etched in the detective’s memory, surfacing even during unrelated moments, such as a vacation in Italy. Talking about the incidents helped in processing the emotions associated with them. The detective notes that memories of the location remain, a common experience for police officers revisiting crime scenes.