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.
as Kruimeltje
as Wilkes
as Harry Volker
as Keesie
as Bezoeker Vrouw Koster
as Vader Keyzer
as Vera di Borboni / Lize van Dien
as Vrouw Koster
as Loketbeambte H.A.L.
as Bewaker hondenpark
as Trekschuitjongetje
as Trekschuitjongetje
as Trekschuitjongetje
as Trekschuitjongetje
as Glaszetter
as Agent
as Vrouw in steeg
as Dronken man in cel
as Commissaris
as Bakker
as Mevrouw met wrat
as Winkeljuffrouw 1
as Winkeljuffrouw 2
as Aardige mevrouw
as Rijke heer
as Groentenman
as Agent sleescène
as Moeder Keesie
as Kind van moeder Keesie
as Kind van moeder Keesie
as Kind van moeder Keesie
as Kind van moeder Keesie
as Kind van moeder Keesie
as Kind van moeder Keesie
as Kind van moeder Keesie
as Vader Keesie
as Man bij gaarkeuken
as Jongen sneeuwballengevecht
as Jongen sneeuwballengevecht
as Jongen sneeuwballengevecht
as Jongen sneeuwballengevecht
as Echte Krantenverkoper
as Pianist bioscoop
as Dokter 1
as Verpleegster 1
as Chaplin-figuur
as Koster
as Kwajongen vismarkt
as Kwajongen vismarkt
as Kwajongen vismarkt
as Verpleegster Ziekenhuis
as Onaardige mevrouw kerk
as Aardige mevrouw kerk
as Priester
as Agent kerk
as Spijker
as Moeder Keyzer
as Buikie
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Jongen gesticht
as Slager
as Afficheplakker
as Nieuwe bewoonster
as Kind van Nieuwe bewoonster
as Kind van Nieuwe bewoonster
as Kind van Nieuwe bewoonster
as Oude buurman
as Taxichauffeur
as Kruimeltje als baby
as Kapper
as Onderwijzer
as Verkoper pianozaak
as Controleur bioscooop
as Chauffeur Vera
as Dokter 2
as Dienstbode Vera
as Weldoener
as Toelatingscommissie Parijs
as Verkoper scheepswinkel