When you need a host for the Netherland America Foundation, you call Greg Shapiro: the American Netherlander. I grew up in America first, and I moved to the Netherlands second. The Netherland America Foundation – “NAF” – is a wonderful charity that helps Dutch & American students subsidize their higher education. (As of 2025, it might have to deal with way more US students moving over here…)
For years, New York had the only gala fundraiser! But now the NAF have started organizing galas in the Netherlands. I hosted the first one, in Leiden. In the Pieterskerk (where the Pilgrims came from). There were Dutch royals in attendance. It was all very formal. There were flags and anthems and honor guards. But the main event was the fundraising. And we set a new record! (Mostly because it was the first one.)
In 2024, I was asked to host the NAF gala again. This time the location was on Amsterdam’s Dam Square at the “Industrial Club” – where you still cannot get in without a suit and a tie. Luckily, I had my tuxedo.
I was to host the dinner in a crowded room. A very crowded room. I was told that they had to choose between a stage for me, or extra seats for wealthy money donor people. Actually, it was not a choice. It was a fait accompli. Would I still be willing to do it? I said yes. Charity is the star of the show, not me.
Off the Rails
After dinner, the event relocated to the bar downstairs. The special guest – all the way from Philadelphia – was the legendary soul trio called The Three Degrees! They’re known for their hit songs ‘Dirty Old Man’ (40 years before ‘Me Too’) and ‘When Will I See You Again.’
Backstage, I learned that two of them were originals, and one was a daughter. …sorry: GRANDdaughter. Their hits were in the 70’s and so were these singers. PLUS, they had just flown over from the United States. AND it was almost midnight.
They had a great set! The crowd was loving it. They closed with their hit ‘When Will I See You Again.’ Then I was told to go back onstage and announce an encore. I built up the crowd, I waved my arm, I said “Here they are!” But they did not come back. I laughed out loud. They literally ended on ‘When Will I See You Again?’ The answer is: we will never know.
BUT the good news is: I may be back to host another NAF gala for 2025. As the US / EU alliance is being torn apart, we need organizations like the Netherland America Foundation more than ever.
Greg Shapiro Trump Commentary for Amerika Draait Door Event at De Kleine Komedie (for Europa Draait Door)
event: 12 October, 2024
You may know Dutch journalists Tim de Wit & Arend Jan Boekestijn from their podcast ‘Europa Draait Door.’ (aka Europe is “going crazy.”) In the run-up to the craziest of US elections, they organized a one-off event called ‘Amerika Draait Door,’ aka “America Is Going Crazy.” And they invited me for some comedy commentary. Together with America correspondent Michiel Vos, they predicted it: Trump would win the 2024 election. I predicted Trump would get 20-24 years in prison. (I was wrong.)
The evening began at Amsterdam’s De Kleine Komedie with flags and campaign banners and the journalists’ advice: it’s never safe to bet against Donald Trump. Michiel Vos joined in to agree. Mind you, Michiel Vos is famously married to the daughter of Nancy Pelosi. Apparently he follows the family party line on politics. But boy does he get excited when he talks about Donald Trump’s star quality: “Trump is a bad ass. It’s like the bullets bounce off of him. Americans see him as invincible.” + “Too many Americans are struggling to get by. Living paycheck to paycheck, constantly shocked and upset at hidden costs for every little thing. Americans want a disruptor. They want someone who’s gonna tear it all down if necessary. That’s why they will vote for Donald Trump.”
Greg Goes Against the Grain
The panel predicted a Trump win. Arend-Jan made his prediction by putting on a Make America Great Again hat. (I couldn’t help feeling like that hat will at some point be seen as a symbol of hate. Like, if these guys had to predict “who would win World War II,” he’d be putting on a swastika hat.)
At the end, it was my turn – to make fun of all the candidates. I pointed out that Trump is now older than Joe Biden was when he started as president. Next, I talked about Project 2025 being written by a bunch of religious fanatics. When Dutch people ask me, “Where did they come from?” I say: “You sent them! The Pilgrims, in 1620!”
Dutch people keep asking me, “You don’t really think Trump will be a fascist – ?” And it’s true, the United States has never had fascists take over the country. …But in the Netherlands you have! Not that long ago. Thank goodness it was over quickly – and that’s the best hope I have for the US now.
I ended my bit by giving a fake Trump press conference. Taking questions and giving ridiculous answers. Most answers were simply me repeating Trump’s actual quotes.
I made my prediction by amending the Trump campaign sign from ‘Trump 2024’ to ‘Trump 20- 24’ years in prison. …It was a simpler time.
Of course, no one had thought to discuss the very end of the show. So I dragged everyone up front for a photo op and a big bow.
Full house! Great show. Accurate predictions and accurate title: America is going crazy.
Greg Shapiro in FD Persoonlijk: “I’d Rather be Trump-free Than Wealthy.” 26 September, 2024
Interview: Els Quaegebeur, Photos: Yani (translation: Google)
The American Dutch comedian Greg Shapiro swore never to imitate Donald Trump again. Yet Trump is back, and Shapiro is now back on stage with a Trump show. For him, it helps to have an outlet.
The energy that the Dutch American Greg Shapiro spreads around on stage can also be seen when he’s in his Amsterdam kitchen. Fast talking, alternating between Dutch and English. Often laughing, even in the middle of a sentence. He displays a variety of facial expressions, from cartoonish to ironically amused – even about topics that are clearly going in a serious direction.
Shapiro’s striking Trump imitation – known from the ‘Netherlands Second’ viral video – pops up in conversation as he’s making coffee. Shapiro – who first came to Amsterdam in 1994 to join the Amsterdam-based comedy group Boom Chicago – hoped to be rid of Trump when he stood on stage for a small audience in 2020, due to the corona pandemic. With his solo show Leaving Trumpland. But Trump is back, and now comes the sequel, Leaving Trumpland 2.0: No Country for Old Men.
With the Democrats’ changing of the guard [from Joe Biden to Kamala Harris in July], Shapiro had to adapt and rewrite in a hurry. “Within a few weeks I had to write 60 minutes of new material. Constantly walking around with a voice recorder and a notebook. Trying a lot of material in open mics and self-booked tryouts. And also testing jokes at home.”
He looks at his wife, Inez de Goede (who is also the producer of the show and his tour manager) grinning “just ask her, haha.”
Q: Does Trump also have something that you find admirable?
“Trump is fundamentally an entertainer. You can’t underestimate how much that appeals to American voters. So yes, I give Trump credit for his qualities as basically a Roast Comedian. At an age when most people retire, he reinvented himself as this hateful, political-tirade live act. As a comedian, I recognize a few of his techniques: Storytelling, voice imitation, playing an audience. He is extremely good at it.”
Q: On stage, you’re always busy with Trump as the target, but you’re also an American citizen with the right to vote. How does that affect you?
“As a voter, comedy is a kind of therapy. Even though I’ve lived in the Netherlands for 30 years, I follow the elections closely. It helps to have an outlet, a platform where I’m together with an audience that is also a bit concerned. After a performance, I’ll go out and talk to the folks who saw the show. One guy just told tell me how he heard me doing my Trump imitation, making him look ridiculous – but then realized that’s an actual Trump quote. It helped him realize how insane it would be to put him back in power. That is therapeutic for me.”
Greg Shapiro on Tim Walz in Amsterdam: “Walz for President -?”
Seen at John Adams Institute event 18 February, 2025
What the hell was Minnesota governor Tim Walz doing in Amsterdam at Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ in February?
Well, apparently it was a trade mission that had been scheduled over a year ago. Since then, Walz became Kamala Harris’ running mate, and they lost. So now we ended up with a Vice President like JD Vance basically declaring war on Europe last Friday.
Tim Walz on JD Vance: “It’s an awkward position. Normally, I’d be overseas supporting my nation’s leadership. But.. boy, you said John Adams Institute is here to ‘promote bright minds from the US?’ Right now it feels like a pretty thin bench.” (…Big laughs!)
(This audience was largely populated by members of Democrats Abroad – unlike his Monday night event, where he was reportedly much more reserved.)
Walz added:“Now when I visit the Anne Frank House, it feels less like a historical experience – more like a cautionary experience.” And Walz deftly pivoted back to trade: “If you don’t like where Trump is headed, make more business deals with Democrat governors. It really hits him where it hurts.”
What would Tim Walz do differently?
PART ONE of the interview was Laila Frank on US POLITICS. Her first question: “Why did you lose?”
Walz gave three reasons:
It was too quick / he was too green. “I should NOT have taken the bait to talk about dogs & cats & immigration.”
‘Balkanization of media’ + dominance of right-wing media. “But that’s my job as a teacher, I didn’t do a good enough job explaining.” (This includes the people onstage. Though Walz has explained his name is pronounced like the plural of Wall, everyone called him Waltz.) (Also, when Laila Frank mentioned Tim Walz to her Democrat friends in Philadelphia, their first response was “Who’s that again?”)
Yes, the economy. Too many people have been hurting for too long, and the Democrats have been too timid. “I don’t understand this tendency to portion out your power. Burn through it all as soon as you can! Show people you’ll do anything to improve their lives.” Example: Obamacare. “Yes, Obamacare was better, but it’s nowhere near good enough. We need Universal Health Care. Say it!”
Q: “It’s been a month of Trump in power. Where are the Democrats?”
Walz: “Amsterdam.” (Huge laugh)
Walz said he’d just met with some Dutch members of Parliament earlier. He envies the idea of a Shadow Government: “Every time a plane crashes, I want to see a press conference with Pete Buttigieg saying ‘Here’s what they’re doing wrong. Here’s how we’d be better.’ The Republicans: they tell you ‘government doesn’t work,’ then they get into power and prove it.”
Q: “Is there a crisis of masculinity in America? What should Democrats do?”
Walz: “Provide for them. Too many men feel left behind.But also provide for women. There’s a reason the Republicans called me ‘Tampon Tim’ – for providing menstrual products for women and girls in our schools. We are the ones providing for women. …Plus, every time I’d go on a Congressional hunting trip, I could shoot better than any of them.” Hence: Use their weakness against them. “Then again, I was just giving some advice to my son – he’s now 18. And he replied ‘…says the man who lost to Donald Trump.’ So, yeah that’s fair.”
Is Walz campaigning for something?
PART TWO was Anne van Zoest on FOREIGN POLICY. First question: “What if US drops out of NATO?”
Walz: “I hate to sound like Trump, but you might want to step up your military spending. Because the rate we’re going those aircraft carriers might not be there.”
Q: “What does a new world order look like without the USA there?”
“They’re exporting oligarchy. (hey, at least people know now what that means.) It’s not very popular.”
Walz on the EU Paris Summit: he said he was shocked that EU leaders weren’t more decisive on Ukraine. “We need action. Look at Canada. When Trump threatened tariffs, they pulled Kentucky whisky off their shelves. To punish red states specifically. It worked.”
Q: “What will the Middle East look like?”
Walz: “I continue to believe in a 2-state solution. But now that Trump announced his plans to turn Gaza into ‘Trump Plaza,’ I’d expect more outrage. But there’s been silence in the Arab world. And the EU for that matter. Maybe I’m stuck in the past. I really don’t know.”
Q: “Governor Walz or Senator Walz?”
Walz: “If I could help form a more united front in DC, I could see that. But for now – as Governor, I can be more consequential in one day than I was for 12 years in Congress. Yes, there will be midterm elections, and my expectation is most folks will realize Trump and the Republicans do NOT have their backs. But even this coming November, look at the governor’s race in Virginia. That will tell you a lot.”
Meanwhile, Laila Frank reports that Walz was heard backstage saying, “I’ve been tryout out that line.” Is that what you say on a trade mission? Or more like what you say when you’re campaigning?
Fascism Expert Timothy Snyder Speaks in Amsterdam, and I Ask Him a Question
Friday, 24 January, 2025
Timothy Snyder was hosted by the John Adams Institute at the Dominicuskerk Amsterdam
A Fascism expert. What better way to celebrate the second inauguration of Donald Trump?
US author & professor Timothy Snyder spoke in Amsterdam on “Imagining and Designing a Better America.”
(Maybe he was talking about somewhere else in North America.)
Timothy Snyder is best known for his book On Tyranny, which describes how democracies die. His phrase “do not obey in advance” has been trending on social media since Election Day 2024. Snyder: “I wish my book was NOT a best-seller right now.”
One Snyder line that stuck with me: “Oligarchs have more in common with each other than they do with their own people.” Hence Trump’s first foreign leader invite was to Netanhayu. And Trump’s first Big Phone Call was to Putin. To coordinate the heist.
Snyder’s new book is On Freedom, which he’s promoting now. He said he wanted to ask the question: “What is it that makes a Trump possible?” His answer: the US has the wrong idea of freedom. There’s “The Freedom TO”vs. “The Freedom FROM”.
-The Freedom TO is referenced in the US Declaration of Independence: “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Positive Freedom.
-The Freedom FROM is negative. It comes from a place of entitlement and blame. “If not for X, then you would be free. (And only I can fix it.)” Negative Freedom.
The Four Freedoms
Unfortunately for Snyder, someone in the audience brought up the famous “Four Freedoms” of Franklin Roosevelt. (The freedom of speech, the freedom of worship, the freedom FROM hunger and the freedom FROM fear.) Snyder argues that it’s semantics, and the first two freedoms define the four, and they’re primarily about the freedom TO exercise your own free will.
The US Republican party promises the freedom FROM: immigrants; woke culture; and… the government itself. Ronald Reagan was charismatic and indeed a great communicator, when he said “the nine most frightening words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’” Snyder argues that Donald Trump also is intelligent & charismatic & good at politics. And a fascist.
Interesting point from Snyder: any time the term freedom is applied to an object – it implies authoritarianism. The term “free market” = you humans have the duty to NOT intervene.
Another interesting point: Negative freedom empowers people to abandon empathy. Fascism relies on lack of human empathy.
Someone from the audience asked “here you are in Amsterdam with a liberal audience. Aren’t you just preaching to the choir?” Snyder argues that “Preaching to the Choir” is 100% good! It’s empowering to hear friends & neighbors make their case. And it helps encourage human empathy.
My question for the Timothy Snyder Q & A:
“I was thinking of the quote from Pres. Theodore Roosevelt, about the ‘pleasant falsehood vs the unpleasant truth.’ And negative freedom seems to be doing a good job of promoting the pleasant falsehood! But does there come a point when the unpleasant truth becomes unavoidable? Like in America? Basically, you’ve studied a lot of democracies slipping into dictatorship… can you tell us what happens next?”
Snyder answered that “More Negative freedom will lead to people being less free. At some point, Negative freedom will crash out.”
Snyder predicts Trump will experience extreme unpopularity, starting 6-12 months into this term.
I hope he’s right.
Greg Shapiro Speaks at EYE Filmmuseum Opening for ‘Coen Brothers Complete’ film festival
What was I doing speaking at the opening of a Dutch Coen Brothers film festival?
Amsterdam’s EYE film museum is hosting a Coen Brothers retrospective all summer long, kicking off with their first-ever feature Blood Simple. The programmer thought “What if we get The American Netherlander to comment on the differences in Dutch & American film culture?” Either that or pay for Joel Coen to be there… They chose me.
Boy, do Dutch people love the Coen Brothers! Cinema 1 was totally full. By the way, if you’ve never been to the new EYE film museum across from Amsterdam Central Station, you’re missing out.
You don’t even need to see a film: the building, the bar and the terrace are a work of art. I crossed the water on the ferry with my cinephile daughter, who was my plus one.
The opening word was given by the film museum programmer Ronald Simons, who wore an Evil Dead t-shirt. Why? Because Joel Coen was the cinematographer! Part film quiz. I loved it.
As for my speech, I got to show my PowerPoint slides on the big screen with a 4k projector. Ronald and I had met earlier to craft the message of my 15 minutes. He thought it would be fun to reference the US election – or as I call it – “No Country for Old Men.” (Hopefully.)
What are the themes of the Coen Brothers movies?
They are notoriously difficult to categorize. But Ronald wanted me to highlight these 3 things:
1) ‘Old Testament-like Trials.’ I had to reference Genesis and the famous Dutch mapmaker who said “God created the earth, but the Dutch created their own country.” Dutch people would have been the ones in Moses’ tribe who stayed behind to make their homeland on the bottom of the Red Sea. “We’ll put up some dikes, we’ll dig a few canals. Gezellig.”
2) They parody and subvert film genres. Dutch director Paul Verhoeven is well known for playing with genres.. but the master of parody and subverting genres would be Dick Maas. Coming soon: “Amsterdamned – TWO.”
3) Man vs Indifferent Universe / Bad Things Happen to Good People. The best example I could think of was the (part-) Dutch film called Spoorloos, from 1988. I saw it in an art-house cinema in 1990. And the ending was such a shock! It was such a sensation there was a Hollywood remake in 1993, called The Vanishing. This movie is so bad you have to watch it to believe it. I re-enacted the Hollywood version of the ending. And I ended by saying “now you know how hard it is to make a truly original, truly dark movie in the United States. With that in mind, let’s watch the Coen Broertjes’ first film: Blood Simple.” And it was great!
Shapiro Hosts TUDelft Event – 10 years of TU Delft Sports Engineering Institute
On days like these, I love my job.
Just as the Netherlands Olympic team is getting ready for Paris 2024, they celebrated 10 years of help from the TU Delft Sports Engineering Institute. I was brought in to host the 10 year event.
When milliseconds make the difference between Silver and Gold, the Sports Engineering Institute uses high tech innovations to give the Netherlands the advantage. Onstage, I interviewed the head of the TU Delft program to discuss the new prototype Olympic racing bike (warning – brakes not included). (Professor Tim van der Hagen – rector magnificus at TU Delft)
I interviewed the head of the NOC Dutch Olympic Committee about the Dutch love of speed skating. When people say “the Dutch have skating down to a science,” it’s Delft they’re talking about. (Marc van den Tweel – general director at NOC*NSF)
I interviewed the head of the head of the Nationaal Klimaat Platform about how sports innovation helps sustainability. The Netherlands is also known for Olympic sailing – 100% wind power. But the officials’ boats are now being powered by hydrogen fuel cells developed at TU Delft. You may have heard how Paris 2024 wants to be the Greenest Olympics ever. You can thank the Dutchies. (Kees Vendrik – Chairman of Nationaal Klimaat Platform – will dive into the relevance of sports innovation for society.)
Sports Engineering and Baseball
After the plenary session, there was a gallery of sports exhibits, from skating to tennis – even darts. (see Michael van Gerwen, former Dutch World Champion)
My personal favorite sport is baseball. That’s how I grew up. So when I saw the exhibit for baseball pitchers, I had to try it myself.
There’s more and more pressure on young baseball pictures to throw with higher and higher velocity. The result is that many young pitchers blow out their arms and need surgery. But Delft SEI asks, “what if we use sensors to help young arms avoid injury?”
So I gave it a try.. I reached a top speed of 75 miles per hour. If you ever need a quasi-celebrity to throw out your first pitch, I’m available.
Thank you to event organizers JMT Management and to Karsten Stouten for the photos – and video.
And thank you to Ramona and the SEI team for putting glitter tape on my cue cards (blecch)…
…but then handing out top quality schwag: a TU Delft SEI t-shirt. Sports Engineering for Life!
Shapiro Hosts Government Event for Netherlands Innovation Network
3 April, 2024
What an inspirational event for the NIN Netherlands Innovation Network’s 70th Anniversary (Oct. 2023)! I was honored to be host for the entire day.
The NIN is an outreach program to create public-private partnerships across borders – and make history. In 70 years of international networking, they can claim credit for the creation of CD’s, WiFi, water engineering, and a whole exposition floor full of more examples.
I started by singing happy birthday for the current staff of the NIN – which is part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate.
The Future is Bright
Next, we got a preview of the future. AI and Quantum computing. Agritech and Health / Life Sciences. But for me most interesting was Aviation and the race between SAF (Sustainable / Synthetic Aviation Fuel) and Alternate Power Trains (e-Jets). The good news is: pretty soon we won’t have to feel so bad about flying anymore.
I’ve hosted so many events where the theme is efficiency / downsizing. This was one event where the boss was telling the staff: “get more people to claim more of these subsidies!”
Celebrating 70 Years
Next we heard some Best-of stories from 70 years of Innovation Attaches from around the globe.
And the Minister was there – at the end. I was introduced to Micky Adriaansens.
And I introduced her to the main stage.
At the very end, organizer George van der Raaij was exhausted. But…
After the event, one of the Innovation Attaches insisted on a group photo WITH the minister.
I enticed the organizers to rally for ONE more group photo. Luckily, photographer Robin Utrecht was on board.
And there she is. Adriaansens still is the ‘demissionaire’ minister. And since our next minister will likely be from a new coalition of science-denying amateurs, the longer she stays on the better.
Greg Shapiro Introduces Same-Day PowerPoint Parodies for Corporate Events
12 January, 2024
“Could you watch a day full of keynote speakers and then – at the end – perform a parody PowerPoint, based on their PowerPoints?” The answer is YES.
At the end of a corporate event, you’ll sometimes see a sketch artist give their impressions of the day. Or a spoken word artist. Or me, doing a standup routine.
NOW you can watch me perform a comedy version of the highlights of the day, with a tailor-made PowerPoint presentation.
The visionary who tasked me with this challenge was Ton Wesseling from Online Dialogue. I’m always inspired by his events on the subject of CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization). When he first hired me a few years ago, I did a tailored PowerPoint – with a few last-minute additions: my impressions of the day. In 2023, he hired me again – but this time he asked if I could give my impressions of ALL the speakers. Obviously, the most challenging were the speakers toward the end. Not as much prep time. BUT – I did it!
Thank you Ton, for forcing me to develop a format that didn’t really exist yet. Since Ton is obsessed with data and testing, he gave me a score: “We are always looking for speakers with a 70% or higher Good or Awesome rating. Your score: 90.5%!:”
Here are the Reviews:
“It is truly awesome how he dares to be on stage being funny about sessions that happened only an hour ago.”
“Super impressive how much he listened and took that onboard.”
“Great presentation. Great energy. Super impressed with how quickly you pulled it all together, especially for the ones who had only just spoken before your session. Really tough to nail it but you did. Bravo.”
“Greg had me crying from laughter at some point …and I was really impressed of his recollection of the event.”
“HAHAHAHA !!!!”
“Thanks for the amazing closing keynote. I truly admire your talent to come up with something in such a short time that is so funny, and also makes you think.”
“I love his energy and attitude. He greatly adapted to the world of CRO and improvised.”
“Really fun close of the weekend with the ‘roast’ like presentation. Greg just gives energy to the crowd.”
“Great closing keynote Greg! You certainly shook everybody up that were on the break of tuning out.”
“I love your jokes, rants and energy. Very nicely improvised and integrated …Love it!”
Watch: Greg Shapiro PowerPoint parody at CRO event ‘Conversion Hotel.’
The premiere was a success!
‘GREG SHAPIRO SAVES THE CLIMATE: 60 Minutes of Climate Good News’ at De Nieuwe Anita in Amsterdam. Next up come shows in Utrecht, Haarlem, Nijmegen & more…
Based on a True Story
My day job involves speaking and hosting at corporate events – increasingly for Dutch green startups and leaders in sustainability. Inspiring stuff, actually. So I thought: “why not make a show about it? With d**k jokes.”
So far I’ve got funny stories and inspiration to share about events for:
Boskalis Offshore Wind Energy
HZI Waste-to-Energy Power Plants
The European Sleeper Overnight Train (sustainable alternative to short-haul flights)
Kipster Sustainable Chicken Farm
Mosa Meat Lab-grown hamburger
NRC “How Green Are We” Survey
TU Delft Energy Transition event
TU Eindhoven Pitch Coaching for Green Startups
WUR Wageningen Food X – the food of the future
Koppert Agriculture – the Future of Farming
And I was even hired by a company called New Motion to standardize EV charging stations in Europe. But then I was fired – because apparently the startup had been bought out by Shell Oil, and Shell “wanted to move in a different direction.” …specifically BACKWARDS.
“Climate news stories making you realise it’s not all bad. Amusing and uplifting.”
“Climate theme is great. Also the ‘look out for greenwashing’ angle. Appeals to the sceptic in me.”
The opening was part of the Nutty Anita’s Solo Nights, at De Nieuwe Anita in Amsterdam. And it was a nicely full house. Thanks to Amsterdam’s ‘Maestro of the underground’ Ken Parsons for producing. And thanks to Amsterdam’s Maeva Dolle for being the opening act. Her solo hour is well underway.
FOR MORE GREG SHAPIRO GREEN-THEMED CORPORATE EVENTS:
