Het wassende water

I watched this series on SBS-TV in Melbourne, Australia in the late 80-ies. The setting is late 19th century, I would guess. Was struck by how handsome the lead actor is. His domineering mother makes him forsake his true love (a voluptuous redhead) and marry a regular timid country girl who eventually dies of rabies because her reluctant husband never noticed the symptoms (such as fear of water) - very tragic for all involved. Having spent some of my childhood in north-west Germany, I could relate to the overcast, flat landscapes of canals and squat farmhouses, all contributing to a brooding atmosphere and sense of foreboding, though scenes without the lead actor seemed a bit slow for this teenager.