Mientje comes from an ordinary working class family. Her father's alcoholism threatens to put an end to her engagement to Herman, her well to do fiancée. When her parents divorce, Mientje comes into conflict with her future mother-in-law. A grim but ultimately hopeful look at marital problems, poverty, lost love and alcoholism in a working class neighbourhood in Amsterdam.

In 1930s Amsterdam, greengrocer Bet is involved in illicit affairs with businessman Van Santen. To tighten bonds even further, Bet arranges a marriage between her handsome daughter Jans and the businessman's wacky son Hannes. Jans, however, is in love with tough sailor Ko. Based on the succesful Dutch stage musical by Herman Bouber.

Peter Gruber, a young tenor from Vienna, gives piano lessons to Daisy, the daughter of a dentist. They fall in love and when Gruber has to perform in Antwerp, Daisy follows him there. She pretends to be an American musician and manages to get a job with Gruber's orchestra. Daisy's worried father sets off in pursuit of his daughter, accompanied by a certain miss Lola.

Dirk van der Kooy returns to the Dutch East Indies for a five year stint as the administrator of a sugar factory. His second wife Betje, however, unexpectedly decides to join him. Once there, she finds out that Dirk has a daughter from an earlier marriage, leading to misunderstandings galore...

Merijntje Gijzen is a small boy growing up in Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands. One day, out on one of his walks, he meets infamous poacher 'De Kruik,' and the two become friends. De Kruik is in love with Janekee but she is more interested in the new village policeman.

Circus artists Jan and Annie are in possession of jewels that were - unbeknownst to them - stolen from the famous Jolly Sisters. Mistaking them for the thieves, two bumbling detectives infiltrate the Dutch theatre-life.

Juultje, the most beautiful girl in Volendam and daughter of the strict innkeeper Barendse, sparks a scandal at the village fair when she dances against her father’s rules. She meets Sander, the wealthy son of a shipping magnate, and they fall in love, planning to run away to Brussels. Meanwhile, Piet, a loyal friend secretly in love with her, leaves for Canada to improve his future. In Brussels, Juultje and Sander live in luxury until Sander abandons her. Heartbroken, she returns to the Netherlands and finds work in Amsterdam. Years later, she reconciles with her father before her mother’s death. Piet returns, and at last, Juultje and Piet marry, beginning a new life together.