A collection of short scenes portraying highlights of Dutch history, from the Eighty Years' War to King Willem I's return from exile. This film was made to commemorate the centenary of the Dutch royal family.

The story of Theodoor, a hunchbacked child. He grows up in poor circumstances. His alcoholic father dies as a result of suffocation caused by alcohol. After this, he spends his days wandering the streets, becomes involved in the fairground life, and is present in a tent where a fire breaks out. Better times then arrive. He becomes a famous violinist and marries the daughter of a wealthy man.

Boris wins a violin competition, and Countess Montjoie, an admirer, gives him an inherited Stradivarius on the condition that he comes to play for her regularly, as she does not have long to live. During one of those evenings, he meets Elsa, the daughter of the countess's handyman. They fall in love. One day, he leaves his mother to look after the violin, but when a fire breaks out, Boris has to go to extreme lengths to save the countess's violin. Fortunately, he manages to rescue the violin from the raging fire and is able to play a farewell serenade at the countess's deathbed.

The wealthy Alice Stanton is saved from drowning by Jack, a fisherman who sees her in the water. They get to know each other and begin a romantic relationship. This comes to an end when Jack realizes that the people will never approve of their relationship. He fears that their difference in social status will cause a scandal. He ends their relationship and breaks off contact. Six months later, Annie marries someone else. Meanwhile, Jack spends all his time at sea and is involved in a shipwreck. He is seriously injured and, just before he dies, he has a vision of Alice.

The story revolves around extortion and blackmail, with a notorious con artist making life impossible for everyone else.

An orthodox Jewish man refuses to accept the marriage of his daughter to a Christian man.