At the beginning of the nineteenth century, great poverty prevailed in Amsterdam, and the splendor of the seventeenth century had long since vanished. While the city government seemed determined to maintain the status quo, it was wealthy and proud Amsterdammers who took matters into their own hands to pull the city out of its slump. In addition to improving healthcare, housing, and hygiene, these Amsterdam benefactors also laid the foundation for important landmarks such as the Vondelpark, the Concertgebouw, and the Rijksmuseum.

The Second World War left a deep scar on Amsterdam. A large part of the Jewish population, 60,000 people, was deported and murdered. The city went in search of a new identity. On the one hand, Amsterdam wanted to become a modern city with highways and new construction. But on the other hand, it wanted to retain the human scale and preserve the individuality of its residents. Thanks to the counterculture that emerged in the 1960s, Amsterdam acquired a new face.

It is the 1930s. A global crisis is spreading, and growing discontent gives rise to new radical movements such as fascism. This ideology is gaining ground not only in Germany but also in the Netherlands, and society becomes divided as a result. Boxing friends Ben Bril and Sam Olij find themselves diametrically opposed during these years.