Eight children between four and eleven years old move into a new housing development. They go to the same school and play together. There's the boy Petja and his friends Vincent, Laurin and Maus, and the girl Tara and her friends Tieneke, Fritzi and Jul. They often have different opinions and it doesn't always turn out to be fun. But Möwenweg is ultimately always the most beautiful place in the world.
The eponymous hero – Captain Horatio Pugwash – sails the high seas in his ship called the Black Pig, assisted by cabin boy Tom, pirates Willy and Barnabas, and Master Mate. His mortal enemy is Cut-Throat Jake, captain of the Flying Dustman.