On 21 May 1527 Philips II is born in Spain and Tijl Uilenspiegel in the Netherlands. One will grow up to be the ruler of most of Europe and the other a good-natured but poor trickster.
Tijl, having been banished from the Netherlands for insubordination, reaches his destination, the Vatican and manages to get an audience with the pope. As Karel V lies on his deathbed, Tijl's father Klaas is put on trial for renouncing the catholic church.
Having lost both his parents, Tijl Uilespiegel persuades his friend Lamme Goedzak to join the army of Geuzein in their fight against the Spanish conquerors. Tijl is secretly searching for 'the seven ghosts' and Lamme is looking for his estranged wife, Kalleke. Back home there are rumors of a werewolf terrorizing the area. Tijl vows to capture the beast.
Justice is served for both Grijpstuiver and Hans the Duivel. Nele saves Tijl from hanging by agreeing to marry him, after which Tijl becomes a captain in the naval army of Orange.
