A Dog of Flanders Season 1

Season 1

Nello Tarth is a poor but happy orphan who lives with his grandfather Jehan in a little village nearby Antwerp. Nello has a talent for drawing pictures and has been fascinated by it since he saw one of Rubens (a famous artist) pictures as a little boy. Helping Jehan with the daily milk delivery to Antwerp, Nello one day discovers Patrash, a working dog who has been mistreated and abandoned by his former owner. He treats the exhausted animal and after a little while a close and dependable friendship develops.

Air date: 1975-01-05

Episodes: 52

Episodes

E1: Nello

As every morning, Nello and his grandfather Jehan take the milk to Antwerp. In the city he sees a man brutally beating the dog that is harnessed to his cart. Nello is very distressed by the fate of the dog and wants to help him.

Air date: 1975-01-05

E2: With Alois in the Forest

Grandfather Jehan brings the milk to town alone today. Nello and Alois want to collect strawberries. When a thunderstorm comes up, they both seek shelter with Michel, a woodcutter. Meanwhile, Alois' parents are very worried about the whereabouts of their daughter.

Air date: 1975-01-12

E3: At the Town of Antwerp

In front of the cathedral in Antwerp, Nello sees a painter and lets him teach him the art of painting. In the evening, before going to sleep, he thinks about his experiences in the city. Above all, he can't get the poor dog out of his mind.

Air date: 1975-01-19

E4: New Friends

Nello wants to go fishing and meets George and Paul at the canal. They tease him. When Paul falls into the water, Nello rescues him together with a bargeman and thus gains two new friends.

Air date: 1975-01-26

E5: Patrasche

George and Paul are waiting for Nello. They watch the ironmonger maltreat his dog. Later they learn that the dog's name is Patrasche. Back home, Nello cannot forget the poor animal.

Air date: 1975-02-02

E6: Don't Give Up, Patrasche

Nello has helped the grandfather. Now he is looking for Patrasche, who collapsed and was left for dead by the ironmonger. On his way home, Nello finds the dog and takes him home.

Air date: 1975-02-09

E7: Eat Your Soup

Patrasche is very sick. Nello gives the animal some medicine, but the dog is getting worse. Jehan comes by and brings meat. From it they cook a soup for Patrasche. And lo and behold, a small miracle happens: Patrasche eats again.

Air date: 1975-02-16

E8: He Barked, Grampa

Thanks to the food that Alois brings daily, Patrasche recovers quickly. Alois and Nello build a dog bed for their friend. When the grandfather returns home, a nice surprise awaits him.

Air date: 1975-02-23

E9: Memories of a Bell

Patrasche has fully recovered and even wants to pull the cart again. On the way to town they meet George and Paul. In town, a merchant advises Nello to beware of the ironmonger. A little later they meet the evil man.

Air date: 1975-03-02

E10: Alois's Brooch

Patrasche is told to go and collect wood, and Alois accompanies him. While playing, she loses her brooch. Nello finds it again. Together they visit the woodcutter Michel and have a lot of fun. But Alois' father does not like this at all. He is against his daughter's friendship with Nello.

Air date: 1975-03-09

E11: Elina's Garden

The grandfather and Nello return from Antwerp. At home, the steward Hanse is already waiting for them to collect the rent. Furious, he claims that Nello's dog Patrasche has ravaged the tulip field.

Air date: 1975-03-16

E12: Grampa's Piggy Bank

The grandfather can no longer keep Patrasche from pulling the milk cart. So he makes him a pulling harness. Patrasche's old owner, the ironmonger, sees this and demands the dog back. With a lot of skill, the grandfather can prevent Nello from finding out about it.

Air date: 1975-03-23

E13: A Windmill from Napoleon's Times

A storm has damaged the old windmill. Noël is supposed to repair it. Nello observes and draws him as he does so. When the mill starts moving again, Nello sees Hanse's son, Andras, tumbling around on one of the wings. Quick-witted, he intervenes.

Air date: 1975-03-30

E14: A Picture Painted in the Sky

The grandfather is on his way to town. He is talking to some neighbors about his grandson's future. He wants him to become a farmer or a lumberjack. Nello doesn't like that at all. He wants to become a painter.

Air date: 1975-04-06

E15: The Old Account Book

Nello has discovered that he can draw with charcoal. Alois is thrilled. She runs home to get paper and takes one of her father's account books. When she brings it back, an important page is missing. Suspicion falls on Nello.

Air date: 1975-04-13

E16: 10 Cents Picture Album

In town, Nello sees a store for drawing materials. But where is he going to get ten cents for a sketchbook? Working hard, he earns the money and uses it to buy a sketchbook and two pencils.

Air date: 1975-04-20

E17: Under the Tree on top of the Hill

Nello is all excited about his sketchbook. In Antwerp, he tries to draw on the old tower, but he doesn't succeed. Alois suggests him to draw Patrasche, which Nello succeeds.

Air date: 1975-04-27

E18: Kuro, the Prankster

Mrs. Noulette is supposed to move in with her daughter Milene, but she is attached to her house and her animals. When Blacky disappears, Nello and Alois set out to find him. Patrasche rescues the duck from a river hole. Milene doesn't have to worry now, because her mother has the nicest neighbors.

Air date: 1975-05-04

E19: A Hardware Salesman is in Town

A month has passed and Jehan has to pay for Patrasche. With difficulty he is able to raise the money. But unfortunately too late: the ironmonger has already kidnapped Patrasche because he did not want to wait any longer for his money. In vain, Nello and Jehan set out on a search.

Air date: 1975-05-11

E20: Friends Forever

George and Paul also join the search for Patrasche. Nello moves away from the others, and in the end Patrasche finds his master half fainting from weakness. With the last of their strength, the two make their way home.

Air date: 1975-05-18

E21: Alois' Aunt

Alois' aunt Sophie comes to visit. She wants to take the girl to England to take care of her education there. Nello is sad. He thinks he will never see his girlfriend again.

Air date: 1975-05-25

E22: Presents from England

Nello dreamed that Alois left for England on a big ship. There she wants to go to school. When Alois then also gives him a glass ball, Nello believes it is her parting gift.

Air date: 1975-06-01

E23: Alois' Birthday

Alois celebrates her birthday. Of course, Nello is also invited. The friends play and in the process a precious vase gets broken. Immediately the celebration is stopped. Later, Alois asks Nello to draw it. Quickly the trouble is forgotten.

Air date: 1975-06-08

E24: Alois' Portrait

Nello helps Alois' father with the hay harvest. When he is finally relieved by his grandfather, he can finally start drawing Alois. Alois' father wants to reward Nello with a coin, but he refuses.

Air date: 1975-06-15

E25: Alois is Gone

Alois has run away from home because her father wants to send her to England. Patrasche finds the girl again. Nello is able to convince her that her father's decision is for her own good. Sadly, the children part away. They will miss each other very much.

Air date: 1975-06-22

E26: Goodbye, Alois

Secretly, Alois and Nello meet in a store. They study maps. They discover that Antwerp and England are not that far apart. The day of departure approaches. The children have to say goodbye to each other.

Air date: 1975-06-29

E27: Christmas without Alois

Nello is missing Alois. After weeks, mail finally arrives from her in England. The letter, however, is addressed to her mother. But Nello also has a big surprise waiting for him.

Air date: 1975-07-06

E28: A Kind Lady

Nello is on his way to the Antwerp Cathedral. There he wants to talk to Alois, as she suggested in her letter. In the city, Nello makes the acquaintance of a woman who becomes very important for him.

Air date: 1975-07-13

E29: Two Paintings by Rubens

Nello is alone in Antwerp and immediately goes to the cathedral. The lady has told him about two other Rubens paintings. However, the paintings are covered and the visit costs money.

Air date: 1975-07-20

E30: Meeting in the Snow

In Antwerp, Nello meets the friendly lady again. She tells him about her deceased son. Then she wants to see Nello's sketchbook. She suggests that he look at two Rubens paintings the very next day.

Air date: 1975-07-27

E31: Nello's Decision

The woodcutter Michel has injured his foot. Nello helps him with the work. He spends the night in his hut. While collecting wood, he sees the huge tree that Michel wanted to cut down. Nello decides to cut down the tree himself.

Air date: 1975-08-03

E32: A Big Oak Tree

Nello wants to cut down a mighty oak in the forest. In the process, he catches Hanse hunting without permission. When grandfather Jehan overhears that George and Paul are helping their friend to collect wood, a misunderstanding ensues.

Air date: 1975-08-10

E33: Letter from the Heart

Aunt Noulette is not the only one who worries about Nello's future. Michel suggests to his grandfather that Nello should become a lumberjack. Jehan does not have the heart to tell his grandson, because the boy would never leave his grandfather voluntarily.

Air date: 1975-08-17

E34: Mrs. Nulette

Aunt Noulette's moving day has come, and everyone pitches in. Nello gets Blacky the duck from her, for whom he builds a duck pen. Finally, by chance, he learns about a very big news.

Air date: 1975-08-24

E35: Welcome Back, Alois

When Nello goes to pick up Alois from the ship, he receives the disappointing news that his girlfriend is sick. A week later, he wants to visit her in the hospital, but is not allowed to see her.

Air date: 1975-08-31

E36: Alois's Medicine

It was a big mistake not to let Nello see Alois, because she is getting worse and worse. Finally she comes home. The doctor orders Nello to visit her, because that is the best medicine for her.

Air date: 1975-09-07

E37: Good News

Now Alois is waiting for Nello again like before. One senses that she will get well again because of his presence. The father doesn't want to know about it and still behaves hostile towards the boy. He even considers whether it is time to send Alois back to England.

Air date: 1975-09-14

E38: Nello's Big Dream

Nello is determined to win the prize in the drawing competition. But what should he draw? Alois will go to school in Antwerp, and so the two will have the same path in the future.

Air date: 1975-09-21

E39: Flag Connecting Two Hearts

Since Alois is taken to school by Hanse, the children rarely see each other. One day the car breaks down, and Alois walks the long way with Nello. The boy learns from Alois' father that his grandfather still works in Antwerp on the side.

Air date: 1975-09-28

E40: Grampa's New Job

Grandfather Jehan works at the vegetable market in Antwerp. He convinces Nello that the work is not exhausting him. Nello wants his grandfather to take it easy and helps him for the next few days. But Jehan doesn't like that at all, because he wants his grandson to concentrate on the painting competition.

Air date: 1975-10-05

E41: A Familiar Long Road

The grandfather has to stay in bed after a fainting spell. Therefore Nello takes over all the work in the house. Because of this, he no longer comes to practice for the competition. But Jehan recovers and everything seems to be fine.

Air date: 1975-10-12

E42: The New Neighbor

Once again, grandfather Jehan has to stay in bed. His condition worsens. In addition, the new neighbor takes the farmers' milk into town for free. Nello now has only one customer.

Air date: 1975-10-19

E43: Alois's Help

Nello did not tell his grandfather that he had to work in the port, nor for what reason. From Alois, who takes care of the sick man, Jehan finally learns the whole truth.

Air date: 1975-10-26

E44: Grampa's Gift

Nello has worked well and receives his first wage. He buys a big piece of meat and cooks a good soup for his grandfather. The grandfather is very touched. He tells the boy that he knows about the port job and praises him. Finally, Jehan dies in the arms of his stunned grandson.

Air date: 1975-11-02

E45: Nello Is Alone

After the death of his grandfather, Nello goes to the cemetery with Patrasche. It is actually Alois' birthday and she waits in vain for her friend. Finally she finds out what happened and meets Nello at the grandfather's grave.

Air date: 1975-11-09

E46: Grampa's Face

Now Nello is alone in the house with Patrasche and Blacky. Uncle Michel learns from Alois that Jehan has died, and he wants to take the boy to live with him. Nello, however, now knows that he has to draw his grandfather, and that's how long he wants to stay in the old neighborhood.

Air date: 1975-11-16

E47: Fire at the Windmill Hut

Alois' mother Elena tries to put in a good word for Nello with her husband Peter. Unfortunately, she is not listened to. When Peter's mill burns down, Hanse accuses Nello of arson. The boy runs off into the night in despair.

Air date: 1975-11-23

E48: No More Work

The villagers are against Nello, who now also loses his job. Even Alois is not allowed to see him again. His only consolation are the thoughts of his grandfather and his real friends Uncle Michel and Aunt Noulette. With new courage he paints his picture.

Air date: 1975-11-30

E49: I Finished the Painting, Grampa

Finally the painting for the competition is ready. Nello goes with Paul to Antwerp to deliver it to the town house. Back home, Uncle Michel is waiting for him and wants to take him home. But Nello wants to wait for the result of the competition first.

Air date: 1975-12-07

E50: Day of the Announcement

On the day of the award ceremony, Nello sees Alois and George again. Hanse tells the boy that he will have to leave the house if he cannot pay the rent. When he doesn't get the first prize in the painting competition, Nello loses all hope.

Air date: 1975-12-14

E51: Two Thousand Francs

Peter, Alois' father, loses a bag with a lot of money. The dog Patrasche finds it, and Nello brings it back. Alois' father owes the boy a great debt of gratitude.

Air date: 1975-12-21

E52: Picture of the Angels

Patrasche sets out to find Nello, who has left a suicide note. Now everyone is looking for the missing boy who has been wronged so much. Patrasche finally finds him in Antwerp Cathedral, where Nello has a wonderful dream.

Air date: 1975-12-28