Twelve years ago, fisherwoman Kniertje lost her husband and two of her sons on sea. Now she makes a living by doing some cleaning at shipowner Bos, but it's far from enough. Driven by poverty and honor she urges her last two sons to take a job on one of the fishing boats of Bos, the Op hoop van zegen. Barend is a beachcomber and he hates the sea, Geert has a very good job at the navy, but loses it when he stands up against of his superiors. He absolutely despises Bos, but his pride makes him fulfill his obligations. Barend tries to escape, but the police and his own mother force him to go, after all she already accepted a fee in advance from Bos. Together the boys leave on the 'Hoop', a heavily insured ship that recently underwent repairs, but were they sufficient? Some people in town have serious doubts.