A chance encounter leads Elena to a mysterious invitation involving an old map of Rotterdam. She can't resist digging deeper, setting her on a journey that will take her across the city's iconic streets and secrets.
A Rotterdam Story | Spoilers Podcast | S1E1
If you're a fan of spoilers, listen to the latest podcast episode, in which our hosts discuss and analyse the events of this chapter.
The arrival
The sky over Rotterdam was a muted grey, a colour that seemed to seep into the very fabric of the city. Meent was alive with a hum of activity, the narrow street filled with cyclists navigating between shops and cafes, their bells ringing in a symphony of everyday life. Elena walked slowly, adjusting her scarf against the biting late afternoon chill. This was her refuge—a new place far from Madrid, where she could embrace a quieter but vibrant energy. The shop windows glowed warmly, reflecting a mix of modernity and old-world charm, while the worn cobblestones under her feet told stories she could only imagine.
She paused outside Dudok, the cafe’s warmth spilling out onto the pavement, creating an inviting contrast to the cold. Inside, people chatted animatedly, steam rising from their coffee cups, the scent of freshly baked apple pie wafting through the air. Elena considered heading inside for a cappuccino, but before she could decide, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.
"Excuse me, miss," said a voice behind her, lightly accented and polite.
She turned to find a young man, probably not much older than herself, dressed in a long, dark coat. He held an envelope out towards her, his eyes filled with an urgency that caught her off guard.
"You dropped this, I think," he said.
Elena looked at him, puzzled. She hadn't dropped anything—she was sure of it. She took the envelope anyway, murmuring a hesitant 'thank you.' The man nodded, turned abruptly, and walked away, disappearing into the steady flow of cyclists passing by. Elena watched him for a moment, still uncertain, before turning her attention to the envelope.
It was cream-coloured and heavy, sealed with an old-fashioned wax stamp—an elaborate ‘R’ pressed into the crimson wax. This wasn't hers. She should have felt annoyed at the stranger's mistake, but curiosity tugged at her. Who would go to the trouble of handing her an envelope that wasn’t hers and vanish before she could even ask a question?
The envelope's contents
Finding herself more intrigued than cautious, Elena chose a bench on Grotekerkplein. The square was quiet, the sound of distant conversations and the clatter of bicycles echoing softly around her. The imposing Laurenskerk loomed nearby, its stone exterior dark against the fading light, as though it too held secrets it wasn’t ready to share. Elena sat down, glancing around, half-expecting to see the stranger from before. When no one did, she took a breath and carefully broke the seal.
Inside was a single sheet of paper, and a map—an old one, by the looks of it. The paper had just a few words, written in elegant cursive:
"The journey begins where the Maas greets the city."
Elena unfolded the map. It was a hand-drawn depiction of Rotterdam, the kind you’d see in an antique shop, with landmarks rendered in exquisite ink detail. The Erasmus Bridge stood out, drawn with meticulous attention, its cables stretching like harp strings. Other locations were marked too—spots like Witte de Withstraat, Markthal, and what looked like the Oude Haven.
She felt her heart quicken. Was this some kind of art project? A scavenger hunt? Her instinct, honed from years studying art history, told her this was no ordinary tourist gimmick. The edges of the map were slightly frayed, the paper aged to a light brown. Whoever had given her this had a purpose in mind.
An unexpected ally
The next morning, Elena arrived at the gallery early, unable to shake the envelope’s mystery. She tucked it into her bag, careful to avoid her boss’s attention. The gallery on Witte de Withstraat was small but respectable, nestled between trendy bars and indie boutiques. The place smelled of fresh paint and the subtle musk of aged canvases—a comforting scent.
“Elena, you’re here early,” her colleague Mila, a Dutchwoman with short-cropped blond hair and a no-nonsense attitude, called out from the back room.
“Couldn’t sleep much,” Elena admitted, smiling faintly.
Mila raised an eyebrow, stepping closer with two steaming cups of coffee. “Is everything okay?” she asked, her voice softening.
Elena hesitated, then decided to tell Mila. She pulled out the envelope, showing Mila the contents.
Mila’s eyes widened, and she leaned in to get a better look at the map. “This isn’t just old—this looks valuable,” she said, tapping the yellowing edge of the paper. “Where did you get this?”
Elena explained the strange encounter, and Mila’s expression shifted from curiosity to something else—worry, perhaps?
“You know,” Mila said slowly, “my uncle used to be an archivist for the city. He knows about stuff like this. He might recognise it.”
Elena nodded, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. “Would you ask him? I feel like I need to know what this is about.”
Mila smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “Of course. But be careful, okay? These kinds of mysteries… they tend to come with trouble.”
Elena laughed, but the words stuck with her. As the gallery began to fill with visitors, she couldn’t help glancing at her bag, the map lying inside like a secret, waiting to unravel.
Where the Maas greets the city
That afternoon, Elena found herself by the Maas River, just where the Erasmus Bridge spanned its steel cables elegantly across the water. The air was crisp, the wind tugging at her coat, and the river below churned, filled with the reflections of Rotterdam’s striking skyline. Here, the city felt alive, with water taxis zipping across the Maas and the clank of distant construction echoing from the opposite shore. Elena stared at the map’s cryptic line: “The journey begins where the Maas greets the city.”
The bustling scene seemed out of sync with the mystery in her hands. She scanned her surroundings, her gaze catching on a seemingly ordinary lamp post at the river's edge. But something about it felt deliberate. Kneeling beside it, she found what she was looking for—a faint symbol, partially hidden by dirt and grime. Her fingers traced the mark, the carved ‘R’ barely discernible beneath layers of neglect. She felt her heart skip—a small but thrilling discovery. This was no mistake; it was an invitation.
Standing up, she looked out across the river, her breath misting in the cool air. A thrill ran through her veins—this city, with all its history and secrets, was inviting her to uncover something. Elena didn’t know where this journey would lead her, but she knew one thing for certain: she was ready to find out.
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