When his granddaughter is born, debt-ridden Colonel von Zwenken misses out on Aunt Roselaar's allowance of 20,000 guilders. Anxious to keep the money, his son-in-law telegraphs the aunt that a son was born, Frans, and the girl is brought up as a boy. Based on the novel by Anna L.G. Bosboom-Toussaint.

After years of touring abroad with his "Cirque Hollandais", Hendrik van Dalen returns to Holland, hoping that his brother will lend him financial support. Since the death of his wife, things have gone from bad to worse with Hendrik, who drowns his sorrow in drink. Moreover, he has set his heart on the circus-equestrienne, who pretends to love him but is having an affair with the company's wrestler. By encouraging Hendrik to drink, they hope to get their hands on his possessions. Hendrik's daughter sees through their designs and, with the aid of the clown Louisot, tries to foil their plans.

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.

Fisherman’s widow Kniertje urges her two younger sons to set sail on the ‘Op hoop van zegen’, a heavily insured floating wreck which duly goes down in a storm. Kniertje is left behind, alone and lonely. Based on Herman Heijermans’ socialist-inspired Dutch theatre classic.

A séance proves a ghost compelled a spiritualist to kill his rich father.

A poor fisherman's wife sends the remaining family members, her two sons, out to sea on a boat that has seen better days.