editieNL Archives - Greg Shapiro

February 12, 2025 In Blog

Shapiro EditieNL ‘Going Dutch’

Greg Shapiro Comments on new US tv show ‘Going Dutch’ – for RTL ‘Editie NL‘

31 January, 2025

It was a Thursday when my wife informed me there’s a new TV show in America called ‘Going Dutch,’ about a US Army colonel who’s punished by being sent to the least important army base in the world – in the Netherlands.

On Friday morning I got a phone call from Dutch news show to ask if I would want to comment on some clips from the show. I said yes!

I started watching a clip of the first episode. It opens on a graphic saying ‘Camp Stroopsdorf.’ Fun fact: dorf is German; Dutch is dorp. Right away I could tell: “They don’t know the Netherlands.”

As it turns out, there IS one US Army base in Limburg, right next to the German border. And it is tiny! Wouldn’t it be fun to set a tv show there and investigate the subtle quirks of Dutch culture? OR – just trot out the usual stereotypes and get half wrong?

Yes, we open on a flat terrain (typically Dutch). There are people playing frisbee (not typically Dutch). There are people on bikes, there are windmills, and there are tulips – which appear to be added by CGI. When the Colonel inspects the base, he comes across a communal lack of respect for authority. This trait might be the most accurate depiction of Dutch culture so far.

Then the Colonel confronts a young man playing a video game in the recreation center. He says “I like the medals on your uniform” – in a comically German accent.

That Ted Lasso Feeling

The whole thing makes me think of the Ted Lasso formula. It’s a classic ‘fish out of water’ set-up. In fact Ted Lasso featured a whole episode that took place in Amsterdam… But they really came to Amsterdam to tape it. And the creator of the show, Brendan Hunt, really lived in Amsterdam for five years. And he worked with us at Boom Chicago.

Even Quentin Tarantino – when he wrote that scene in Pulp Fiction about Amsterdam and the hash bars and the ‘Royale with Cheese’ – Tarantino came to Amsterdam to do his research.

I don’t know who’s writing this show Going Dutch for FOX channel in America. But if you get a season 2, please come over and I’ll show you around.

The link on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/eCfqvTd1Jaw

I guess EditieNL just calls me every time something about ‘Going Dutch’ is in the news. Here’s me talking about the Dutch app Tikkie:
https://gregshapiro.nl/blog/greg-shapiro-editienl-going-dutch/

September 20, 2022 In Blog

Greg Shapiro EditieNL ‘Going Dutch’

Greg Shapiro EditieNL: ‘Going Dutch’ with Tikkie (and their new tool ‘Groupie’)
20 Sept., 2022

In August, Dutch American comedian Greg Shapiro was asked to comment on the Dutch app Tikkie (and their new tool ‘Groupie’) by EditieNL on Dutch RTL.

From the TV interview:

“‘Going Dutch’ means to spilt the check. Did the concept originate in the Netherlands? Apparently so. I remember coming here 25 years ago, thinking ‘What’s so Dutch about that?’ And the common logic is ‘It proves Dutch people are cheap!’ It also proves that you’re practical. But indeed, when I split the check with Dutch people, they can be very precise.”

“I looked it up: the average amount for a Dutch Tikkie (payment request, like Venmo) is €37.70. There’s no rounding up, like ‘oh, let’s make it 38.’ NO: exactly 37 euros – AND 70 CENTS. Is that distinct about Dutch culture? I don’t know. Not all Dutch people are such mierenneukers. But there are quite a few. Mierenneukers. In America, we might say ‘nitpickers.’ But Dutch people prefer the term ant-fu**ers. It’s just a wonderfully Dutch term.”

From the online article:

“‘In America there is also a payment app [Venmo], but it is not often used for small amounts. That is something typically Dutch,’ says American/Dutch actor Greg Shapiro to Editie NL. ‘Such careful calculating, and down to small amounts? I only know that from the Netherlands. Like when one person did not order the appetizer, so they’re going to itemize their part of the bill.’

“According to him, reclaiming fuel costs is also something typically Dutch. ‘At the same time, it is true: everything is becoming more expensive. So such a small amount may be a bit ridiculous, but it makes sense now.’”

Deleted comments:

“Nice that Tikkie (the Dutch Venmo) now has a new function for groups. It’s called ‘Groupie.’ Never mind that the name Groupie is already taken. But maybe that’s the best example! If you and your 3 girlfriends want to go see a boyband, then one of you pays for the concert tickets, one pays for the bribe to get backstage, another pays for the hotel rooms, and the fourth pays for the pregnancy tests after.”

“Now that I think about it, if there’s one person who never orders the appetizer – it’s ME. Many times I’ve been out to eat with Pep and Andrew from Boom Chicago, and they want to order the menu to try a bit of everything. I’m the one who’s like ‘I’m on kind of a budget here.’ So I have to admit: when I go out to eat with a group, I’m the one saying ‘I’ve itemized my part of the bill.’ I’VE TRULY GONE DUTCH.”

– Interviewer: Joachim van Maaren

RTL article feat. shapiro quote (in Dutch)
https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/tech/artikel/5326880/tikkie-betaalapp-nieuwe-functie-abn-amro-wie-betaalt-wat

In Jan., 2022, Shapiro also got a call from EditieNL to comment on the Dutch tradition of Uitwaaien – aka ‘walking in the wind.’

Greg Shapiro on EditieNL “Come the Netherlands, We’ll Blow You Away”

editieNL Tag