Plot

Set around 1900, Apenstreken (Monkey Business) tells the story of orphan Wim, who badly wants to go to school, instead of spending his time doing forced labor in the city's factory. By his own cunning, and with a little help from a small monkey, Wim finds new friends, a fun school and a loving family.

Orphan boy Wim is far from satisfied with is fate, as the kids are exploited rather then educated under Dickensian circumstances. Having sneaked out, he tasted school life and resolves to get to school, dreaming of being fostered by a nice, caring teacher or even adopted. A fugue proves quite adventurous, staying with a farmer's family and on a boat. He befriends an organ grinder's monkey, which helps making friends. Ultimately he's returned to the orphanage, but a new law on mandatory school age could allow a sympathetic judge to grant his greatest wish, if only his birth certificate hadn't been 'lost' by the couple which runs the orphanage. A wealthy couple however takes to him enough to take him in their fancy home.