Nice Dutch schoolboy Michiel Brugman is bored as nothing ever happens in his neighborhood, and his only buddy moved away. Then he gets new neighbors: pirate Hector Donderbus, who regularly moves his ship and crew, plus pets and 'guard shark', since his mortal enemy Knokige 'Bony' Krelis threatened his then newborn son Billy, now Michiel's age, new friend and bad teen example, eager to play the macho proving himself a fearless pirate. It's walking a tight cord for all, learning to match pirate and 'landlubber' ways, even before Bony turns up, determined to seize the gold-stuffed Donderbus treasure chest, by blackmail or worse.