A military comedy where the 'least important' base is a luxury resort

Wars & Conflicts · Published 17 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Imagine an Army base with no strategic purpose, no weapons, and instead, a Michelin-star commissary and the only fromagerie in the service. This is Stroopsdorf, the setting of Going Dutch—a sitcom that trades battlefield grit for high-end amenities and awkward family dynamics.

Going Dutch follows Colonel Patrick Quinn, a high-ranking U.S. Army officer who finds himself reassigned to lead Garrison Stroopsdorf in the Netherlands. The base is famously dubbed the 'least important Army base in the world' because it lacks any tactical significance. Instead, it functions as a luxury retreat featuring resort-type amenities. This creates a comedic friction between Quinn’s attempt to restore military discipline and the reality of his surroundings.

The show's narrative tension is driven by personal conflict: Quinn must work alongside his estranged daughter, Maggie, who served as the base's former commanding officer. The ensemble includes various specialists, such as an undisciplined cyber operations specialist and a serious but accident-prone private. While the series premiered on Fox in early 2025 and ran for two seasons, it faced significant scrutiny regarding its cultural accuracy. The cast features a diverse group of characters including an XO Major Abraham Shah and a civilian translator named Jan. Additionally, the plot involves a Canadian Army officer who becomes a romantic interest for the Colonel.

The production was notably filmed entirely in Ireland using a real Irish Army base, rather than in the Netherlands. This led to criticism from Dutch media, including the public broadcaster NOS, which labeled the show an affront to Dutch culture. Critics pointed out that the series relied on exaggerated clichés, mixed Dutch and German cultural elements—such as naming the base after 'stroopwafel' and a German word for village—and featured non-Dutch actors with inaccurate accents. Because no filming occurred in the Netherlands, the scenery and architecture do not match actual Dutch life. Furthermore, even the main Dutch character is played by an Icelandic actor whose accent was described as German.

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