De Bauers

Sunday mornings are always a hive of activity for the Bauer family, especially on days when Frans has an afternoon performance at the theater in Rotterdam. Chris and his girlfriend, Rosalie, go along to attend the show, while Jan assists his father during the event. The drives to the performances provide an opportunity for meaningful conversations between father and son about impending parenthood. Meanwhile, Mariska prepares a meal for the family and her friend Anita, who possesses a special gift. Using cards, she offers a glimpse into the future, covering topics ranging from living together to making a career change.

It is a special day at the Bauer household: Mariska is celebrating her fiftieth birthday. While she usually handles everything herself, this time the organization is entirely in the hands of Frans and the children. Keeping the preparations a secret was a challenge for them, but Mariska is being constantly surprised with everything from personal gifts to a workshop and a special dinner shared with loved ones. Meanwhile, Jan and Danique are on the verge of a new chapter in their lives; with only a few weeks left until the due date, they are having an ultrasound scan. However, there is still plenty of work to be done at their home. Fortunately, there are plenty of helping hands around, and Frans is assisting with the necessary demolition work.

It isn’t just their son Jan who is leaving the nest; Frans and Mariska also want a place of their own. They are moving into an office building in Oud Gastel to work, store their belongings, and occasionally escape the hustle and bustle at home. Frans enlists his sons to help move heavy cabinets, while Mariska provides the necessary instructions. Meanwhile, back home, Jan is busy preparing for the baby's arrival, but things don't go according to plan. Labor begins more than six weeks before the due date. The entire family rushes to the hospital for a nerve-wracking day spent waiting for the arrival of the youngest member of the Bauer clan.

After spending several weeks in the hospital, baby Jan is finally allowed to go home. Frans and Mariska arrive immediately to welcome him, and Frans holds his grandson in his arms for the first time. From that moment on, he seizes every opportunity to visit as often as possible. Now that little Jan is doing well at home, there is also room to do things together again from time to time. In his quest to create precious memories with his children, Frans has organized a special outing for himself, Jan, and Chris the family’s self-proclaimed motorcycle enthusiasts. They have been invited to race at the Assen circuit. While Frans thoroughly enjoys the experience, Mariska follows the events from home with bated breath and tense anticipation.

The Bauer household is always a hive of activity. Frans Jr. celebrates the end of the football season with his team at a pool party. Frans’s mother who has been living in a care home for several months due to dementia is also there, visibly enjoying the lively atmosphere. Alongside youthful happiness and new life, this stage of life also involves saying goodbye. The caravan where Frans’s mother used to live has stood empty for some time and now has new occupants. It marks the end of an era an emotionally charged moment that Frans chooses to experience alone, filming the scene himself as the caravan is hauled away to its new destination.

The family is pulling out all the stops to celebrate Chris’s 25th birthday. While Rosalie takes him out for a day of boating, the rest of the family organizes a surprise barbecue at home no easy feat during a heatwave. Meanwhile, Frans Jr. is anxiously awaiting the results of his hospitality training course. Since he isn't exactly a natural born scholar, the suspense is high right up to the last moment. Frans has decided to get serious again about his fitness and reaching a healthy weight. His latest plan to get in shape? Cycling! He has bought a new road bike though it is an e-bike with pedal assist.

Lucas, the youngest member of the family, dreams of his future and envisions himself becoming a music producer. To the surprise of Frans and Mariska, he is thinking big: he wants to take piano lessons and purchase specialized music-making software. This worries the rest of the family, as Lucas has a somewhat different taste in music. Meanwhile, Lucas has been chosen as godfather to baby Jantje a role he primarily fulfills by bringing lots of gifts and hanging out with Jan and Danique. During the christening, however, he discovers there is a bit more to it than that. For this special occasion, the entire family heads to the basilica in Oudenbosch.

Now that the children are growing up and increasingly going their own way, moments spent with the whole family are no longer a given. That is why Frans is organizing a family weekend in Drenthe, where the Bauers are returning to their roots. Baby Jantje is coming along for his first holiday, too. The family is staying in authentic caravans, similar to the ones Frans's parents used to live in. For the boys who have grown accustomed to greater comfort spending a night without a toilet, bathroom, or heating proves to be quite a challenge. Yet, it turns out to be an unforgettable experience. Even more importantly, it is an experience they all share together.