Set in 1860s Holland along the famed Zeider Zee — young Hans Brinker finds himself responsible for supporting his family after his father becomes injured in an accident. He and his sister, Gretel, travel to Amsterdam in search of funds to help pay for their father's operation. Their only hope lies in the city's annual ice skating race in which Hans must face off against his arch-rival, Ludwig Schimmel, in hopes of winning the prize money.