De vliegende Hollander

Summary

Biopic about the pioneer years of airplane builder Anthony Fokker.

After a fight with his teacher, headstrong Anthony Fokker refuses to go back to his old school in Haarlem. He goes to a technical college in Mainz instead where he talks his teachers into including airplane design in the curriculum. Fokker is soon building a prototype of his 'Spider' plane.

The school principal fears he will soon have to do without Fokker's school fees and decides to sabotage his design. The new prototype catches fire during the boy's first attempt at flying it. Fokker isn't deterred and enlists the support of airplane enthusiast baron van Kuilen. He meets Ilonka, the baron's niece, who also helps him. When she sends him a telegram saying her uncle has crashed the new plane, Fokker hurries back to Mainz to salvage the remains of the 'Spider'. He then flies it over Haarlem on the occasion of the Queen's birthday. His famous first flight is witnessed by an enormous crowd of people among which are his cheering parents and former teacher.