Omroep Max has expressed its interest in organising Dutch participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, should AVROTROS decide to continue its boycott.
Jan Slagter, the Director of Omroep Max, has told AD that it would participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 should AVROTROS again decide to boycott the competition. Mr Slatger commented:
“The Eurovision Song Contest is important for the Netherlands, and actually, I think we should just participate with an artist…While we also condemn actions by the Israeli government, that does not have to lead to a boycott.”
They added:
“Should AVROTROS decide not to go again, I would certainly be willing to sit down with the NPO. But we are not going to pay for this out of our own coffers (participating costs roughly half a million euros in total, ed.). In that case, the NPO will have to contribute a substantial amount to the events budget to step in financially.”
According to reporting from AD, Omroep Max is the only broadcaster within the wider Dutch public broadcasting system that is interested in competing in the Eurovision Song Contest.
No decision has been made yet regarding whether the Netherlands will return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027. A spokesperson for NPO stated following this years contest:
“We congratulate Bulgaria on winning the Eurovision Song Contest. The NPO looks back on an eventful edition, and we would like to thank our colleagues at the NOS and NTR for providing coverage of the festival, with expert commentary by Henry Schut and Jeroen Kijk in de Vegte.
Naturally, this raises the question of whether the Netherlands will be on the Bulgarian podium next year. Before we can say anything about that, we are awaiting the EBU evaluation. Based on that, we will enter into discussions with AVROTROS.”
AVROTROS withdrew from the 2026 contest due to objections to Israel’s participation in the contest. The contest was still aired in the Netherlands with support from NOS and NTR providing commentators.
Source: AD / Songfestivalweblog
Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest+
The Netherlands debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and has gone on to compete in all but four contests. The Netherlands has won the contest on five occasions; 1957, 1959, 1969, 1975 and most recently 2019. Prior to Duncan Laurence’s victory in Tel Aviv, the Netherlands had been waiting 44 years for their next victory. Duncan Laurence won the contest in Tel Aviv with the song “Arcade”.