When his sister Lotte dies of blood poisoning, Casper Van Doujke leaves his island home of Terschelling for Amsterdam. Blaming himself for Lotte's death, he studies to be a doctor.
Meanwhile, his mother Elske Van Doujke's quiet mourning for her daughter is interrupted when the Nazis occupy Terschelling. When a face from her past returns to the island, Elske has a final chance of happiness. But can she take it?