As every morning, Nello and his grandfather Jehan take the milk to Antwerp. In the city he sees a man brutally beating the dog that is harnessed to his cart. Nello is very distressed by the fate of the dog and wants to help him.

Grandfather Jehan brings the milk to town alone today. Nello and Alois want to collect strawberries. When a thunderstorm comes up, they both seek shelter with Michel, a woodcutter. Meanwhile, Alois' parents are very worried about the whereabouts of their daughter.

In front of the cathedral in Antwerp, Nello sees a painter and lets him teach him the art of painting. In the evening, before going to sleep, he thinks about his experiences in the city. Above all, he can't get the poor dog out of his mind.

Nello wants to go fishing and meets George and Paul at the canal. They tease him. When Paul falls into the water, Nello rescues him together with a bargeman and thus gains two new friends.

George and Paul are waiting for Nello. They watch the ironmonger maltreat his dog. Later they learn that the dog's name is Patrasche. Back home, Nello cannot forget the poor animal.

Nello has helped the grandfather. Now he is looking for Patrasche, who collapsed and was left for dead by the ironmonger. On his way home, Nello finds the dog and takes him home.

Patrasche is very sick. Nello gives the animal some medicine, but the dog is getting worse. Jehan comes by and brings meat. From it they cook a soup for Patrasche. And lo and behold, a small miracle happens: Patrasche eats again.

Thanks to the food that Alois brings daily, Patrasche recovers quickly. Alois and Nello build a dog bed for their friend. When the grandfather returns home, a nice surprise awaits him.

Patrasche has fully recovered and even wants to pull the cart again. On the way to town they meet George and Paul. In town, a merchant advises Nello to beware of the ironmonger. A little later they meet the evil man.

Patrasche is told to go and collect wood, and Alois accompanies him. While playing, she loses her brooch. Nello finds it again. Together they visit the woodcutter Michel and have a lot of fun. But Alois' father does not like this at all. He is against his daughter's friendship with Nello.

The grandfather and Nello return from Antwerp. At home, the steward Hanse is already waiting for them to collect the rent. Furious, he claims that Nello's dog Patrasche has ravaged the tulip field.

The grandfather can no longer keep Patrasche from pulling the milk cart. So he makes him a pulling harness. Patrasche's old owner, the ironmonger, sees this and demands the dog back. With a lot of skill, the grandfather can prevent Nello from finding out about it.

A storm has damaged the old windmill. Noël is supposed to repair it. Nello observes and draws him as he does so. When the mill starts moving again, Nello sees Hanse's son, Andras, tumbling around on one of the wings. Quick-witted, he intervenes.

The grandfather is on his way to town. He is talking to some neighbors about his grandson's future. He wants him to become a farmer or a lumberjack. Nello doesn't like that at all. He wants to become a painter.

Nello has discovered that he can draw with charcoal. Alois is thrilled. She runs home to get paper and takes one of her father's account books. When she brings it back, an important page is missing. Suspicion falls on Nello.

In town, Nello sees a store for drawing materials. But where is he going to get ten cents for a sketchbook? Working hard, he earns the money and uses it to buy a sketchbook and two pencils.

Nello is all excited about his sketchbook. In Antwerp, he tries to draw on the old tower, but he doesn't succeed. Alois suggests him to draw Patrasche, which Nello succeeds.

Mrs. Noulette is supposed to move in with her daughter Milene, but she is attached to her house and her animals. When Blacky disappears, Nello and Alois set out to find him. Patrasche rescues the duck from a river hole. Milene doesn't have to worry now, because her mother has the nicest neighbors.

A month has passed and Jehan has to pay for Patrasche. With difficulty he is able to raise the money. But unfortunately too late: the ironmonger has already kidnapped Patrasche because he did not want to wait any longer for his money. In vain, Nello and Jehan set out on a search.

George and Paul also join the search for Patrasche. Nello moves away from the others, and in the end Patrasche finds his master half fainting from weakness. With the last of their strength, the two make their way home.

Alois' aunt Sophie comes to visit. She wants to take the girl to England to take care of her education there. Nello is sad. He thinks he will never see his girlfriend again.

Nello dreamed that Alois left for England on a big ship. There she wants to go to school. When Alois then also gives him a glass ball, Nello believes it is her parting gift.

Alois celebrates her birthday. Of course, Nello is also invited. The friends play and in the process a precious vase gets broken. Immediately the celebration is stopped. Later, Alois asks Nello to draw it. Quickly the trouble is forgotten.

Nello helps Alois' father with the hay harvest. When he is finally relieved by his grandfather, he can finally start drawing Alois. Alois' father wants to reward Nello with a coin, but he refuses.

Alois has run away from home because her father wants to send her to England. Patrasche finds the girl again. Nello is able to convince her that her father's decision is for her own good. Sadly, the children part away. They will miss each other very much.

Secretly, Alois and Nello meet in a store. They study maps. They discover that Antwerp and England are not that far apart. The day of departure approaches. The children have to say goodbye to each other.

Nello is missing Alois. After weeks, mail finally arrives from her in England. The letter, however, is addressed to her mother. But Nello also has a big surprise waiting for him.

Nello is on his way to the Antwerp Cathedral. There he wants to talk to Alois, as she suggested in her letter. In the city, Nello makes the acquaintance of a woman who becomes very important for him.

Nello is alone in Antwerp and immediately goes to the cathedral. The lady has told him about two other Rubens paintings. However, the paintings are covered and the visit costs money.

In Antwerp, Nello meets the friendly lady again. She tells him about her deceased son. Then she wants to see Nello's sketchbook. She suggests that he look at two Rubens paintings the very next day.