The film is based on the popular Dutch childrens book by Chris van Abkoude. In a Dutch port in 1921 lives a 10-year-old orphan boy known to everyone simply as Little Crumb. His poverty-stricken mother Lize van Dien filled with shame was forced to turn him over to Mrs. Koster soon after he was born. Foster mother Mrs. Koster, who has cared for him since he was a baby, is very poor too, unable to support him by herself and proves to be a cruel taskmaster who insists Crumb bring her money before shell feed him. Somehow he must earn his keep out on the streets and can only go home after he has earned enough money. Crumb becomes an urchin stealing from the streets barrows and the shops to stay alive, sleeping in churches or huddled in doorways. Sometimes he has to run off from the police and he has earned the enmity of the most grownups around him.
Ruud Feltkamp
Kruimeltje
Hugo Haenen
Wilkes
Rick Engelkes
Harry Volker
Yannick van de Velde
Keesie
Jack Wouterse
Bezoeker Vrouw Koster
Jan Decleir
Vader Keyzer
Thekla Reuten
Vera di Borboni / Lize van Dien
Sacha Bulthuis
Vrouw Koster
Lou Landré
Loketbeambte H.A.L.
Johnny Kraaijkamp Sr.
Bewaker hondenpark
Kay Greidanus
Trekschuitjongetje
Maarten Wansink
Glaszetter
Bert Geurkink
Agent
Aus Greidanus
Dronken man in cel
Eric van der Donk
Commissaris
Gonny Gaakeer
Aardige mevrouw
Allard van der Scheer
Groentenman
Anneke Blok
Moeder Keesie
Tessa Schram
Kind van moeder Keesie
Emilie Pos
Kind van moeder Keesie
Jaap Spijkers
Vader Keesie
Henny Vrienten
Pianist bioscoop
Joop Doderer
Koster
Tim den Besten
Kwajongen vismarkt
Charlotte Besijn
Verpleegster Ziekenhuis
Lou-Lou Rhemrev
Aardige mevrouw kerk
Casper Gimbrère
Agent kerk
Rick Nicolet
Moeder Keyzer
Wim Serlie
Slager
Wimie Wilhelm
Nieuwe bewoonster
Jaap Maarleveld
Oude buurman
Paul Kooij
Onderwijzer
Laus Steenbeeke
Verkoper pianozaak
Harry van Rijthoven
Dokter 2
Ingeborg Uyt den Boogaard
Dienstbode Vera
Adrian LaTourelle
Verkoper scheepswinkel