Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959

Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959
Eurovision Song Contest 1959
Participating broadcaster	Nederlandse Televisie Stichting (NTS)
Country	Netherlands
Selection process	Nationaal Songfestival 1959
Selection date	17 February 1959
Competing entry
Song	" Een beetje "
Artist	Teddy Scholten
Songwriters	Dick Schallies Willy van Hemert
Placement
Final result	1st, 21 votes
Participation chronology
◄1958 • 1959 • 1960►

The Netherlands was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 by Teddy Scholten with the song " Een beetje ", composed by Dick Schallies and written by Willy van Hemert. The Dutch participating Broadcaster, Nederlandse Televisie Stichting (NTS), selected its entry through a national final. The entry eventually won the Eurovision Song Contest, making the Netherlands the first country to achieve two victories in the contest.

At the Dutch national final, held on 17 February, song and performer were chosen independently of each other. The 1957 contest winner Corry Brokken failed in her bid to represent the Netherlands for a fourth consecutive year, while future Dutch representative Greetje Kauffeld was also among those taking part.

Before Eurovision

Nationaal Songfestival 1959

Nederlandse Televisie Stichting (NTS) held the national final at the AVRO Studios in Hilversum, hosted by Karin Kraaykamp. Eight songs and seven singers were involved, with all songs presented twice by different performers, once with a full orchestra and once in a more pared-down style.

The winning song was chosen by votes from regional juries, then a jury of music experts decided which of the two performers and versions of the winning song should go to Cannes. After "Een beetje" was announced the winner, the expert jury chose Scholten with the full orchestra version of the song. ^[1]

Song selection – 17 February 1959

Draw	Artist	Song	Votes	Place
1	Corry Brokken and Bruce Low	"Mijn hart en ik"	110	3
2	Greetje Kauffeld and John de Mol
3	Greetje Kauffeld	"Als ik denk aan geluk"	38	7
4	Dick Doorn
5	Tonny van Hulst	"Kleine zilv'ren ster"	35	8
6	Corry Brokken
7	John de Mol	"Op het plein"	48	5
8	Greetje Kauffeld
9	Corry Brokken	"Iedere dag met jou"	43	6
10	Bruce Low
11	Dick Doorn	"De regen"	148	2
12	Teddy Scholten
13	Bruce Low	"Angelina"	53	4
14	Tonny van Hulst
15	Teddy Scholten	"Een beetje"	235	1
16	John de Mol

Artist selection – 17 February 1959

Artist	Result
Teddy Scholten	Selected
John de Mol	Eliminated

At Eurovision

On the evening of the final Scholten performed 5th in the running order, following Monaco and preceding Germany. At the close of voting "Een beetje" had received 21 votes, winning the contest by a 5-vote margin over runners-up the United Kingdom. The Netherlands thus became the first country to win Eurovision twice.

The Dutch conductor at the contest was Dolf van der Linden.

Rumours after the contest suggested that the Italian jury had awarded a very high 7 votes to "Een beetje" in order to reduce the chances of a French or British win, but these were never substantiated.

Voting

Every participating broadcaster assembled a jury panel of ten people. Every jury member could give one vote to his or her favourite song.

Votes awarded to the Netherlands [2] Score Country 7 votes   Italy 4 votes   France 3 votes   Austria   Belgium 2 votes   Germany 1 vote   Monaco   United Kingdom

Votes awarded by the Netherlands [2] Score Country 5 votes   United Kingdom 3 votes   Sweden 1 vote   Belgium   Denmark

References

1. "Nationaal Archief". nationaalarchief.nl. hdl:10648/a98df16a-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84 . Retrieved 30 May 2023.
2. "Results of the Final of Cannes 1959". Eurovision Song Contest . Retrieved 22 June 2025.