The novel takes place in the Netherlands and is a colourful fictional portrait of early 19th-century Dutch life, as well as a tale of youthful honour. The book's title refers to the beautiful silver skates to be awarded to the winner of the ice-skating race Hans Brinker hopes to enter. Hans' father, Raff Brinker, suffered head trauma when he fell from a dike. It left him chronically ill, with epis...