The Netherlands has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 64 times since making its debut as one of the seven countries at the first contest in 1956. The country has missed only four contests, twice because the dates coincided with Remembrance of the Dead, and twice because of being relegated due to poor results the previous year. It has missed the final despite qualifying once, in 2024, due to the personal conduct of its entrant which led to disqualification. The current Dutch participant broadcaster in the contest is AVROTROS. The Netherlands has hosted the contest five times: in Hilversum (1958), Amsterdam (1970), The Hague, and Rotterdam (2021).
"I See a Star" was the Dutch entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, performed in English by Mouth & MacNeal.
Mouth and MacNeal were a Dutch pop duo that enjoyed commercial success in the 1970s. Their recording of "How Do You Do" in 1972 topped the Dutch chart and became a US top ten hit and number 2 in Canada. They represented the Netherlands at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing third with the song "I See a Star", which went on to become a UK top ten hit.
Maggie MacNeal is a Dutch singer. She was a member of Mouth & MacNeal, a pop duo from the Netherlands, who are best known for their million-selling recording of "How Do You Do" in 1972, which topped the Dutch chart and became a US top ten hit, and for representing the Netherlands at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing third with the song "I See a Star", which went on to become a UK top ten hit. In 1980, she represented the Netherlands at the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing fifth with the song Amsterdam.
Anne-Karine Strøm is a Norwegian singer, best known for having taken part in the Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest selection, Melodi Grand Prix, in six consecutive years between 1971 and 1976, winning on three occasions and representing Norway in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1973, 1974 and 1976.
The Netherlands participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 with the song "Vrede" written by Eric van Tijn, Jochem Fluitsma and Henk Westbroek. The song was performed by Ruth Jacott, who was internally selected by the Dutch broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) to represent the Netherlands at the 1993 contest in Millstreet, Ireland. Ruth Jacott's appointment as the Dutch representative was announced on 15 July 1992, while the national final Nationaal Songfestival 1993 was organised in order to select the song. Eight songs competed in the national final on 26 March 1993 where "Vrede" was selected as the winning song following the votes from twelve regional juries.
The Netherlands participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 with the song "Waar is de zon" written by Edwin Schimscheimer and Coot van Doesburgh. The song was performed by Willeke Alberti, who was internally selected by the Dutch broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) to represent the Netherlands at the 1994 contest in Dublin, Ireland. Willeke Alberti's appointment as the Dutch representative was announced on 2 November 1993, while the national final Nationaal Songfestival 1994 was organised in order to select the song. Eight songs competed in the national final on 26 March 1994 where "Waar is de zon" was selected as the winning song following the votes from twelve regional juries.
The Netherlands participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with the song "No Goodbyes" written by Ellert Driessen and John O'Hare. The song was performed by Linda Wagenmakers. The Dutch broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) organised the national final Nationaal Songfestival 2000 in order to select the Dutch entry for the 2000 contest in Stockholm, Sweden. Eight entries competed in the national final on 27 February 2000 where "No Goodbyes" performed by Linda Wagenmakers was selected as the winner following the combination of votes from twelve regional juries and a public vote.
The Netherlands participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with the song "One More Night" written by Tjeerd van Zanen and Alan Michael. The song was performed by Esther Hart. The Dutch broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) returned to the Eurovision Song Contest after a one-year absence following their withdrawal in 2002 as one of the bottom six countries in the 2001 contest. NOS organised the national final Nationaal Songfestival 2003 in collaboration with broadcaster Televisie Radio Omroep Stichting (TROS) in order to select the Dutch entry for the 2003 contest in Riga, Latvia. 32 entries competed in the national final which consisted of five shows: four semi-finals and a final. Eight entries qualified from to compete in the final on 1 March 2003 where "One More Night" performed by Esther Hart was selected as the winner following the combination of votes from a seven-member jury panel and a public vote.
The Netherlands participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 with the song "Niemand heeft nog tijd" written by Ed Hooijmans. The song was performed by the group Mrs. Einstein, which was internally selected by the Dutch broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) to represent the Netherlands at the 1997 contest in Dublin, Ireland. Mrs. Einstein's appointment as the Dutch representative was announced on 26 October 1996, while the national final Nationaal Songfestival 1997 was organised in order to select the song. Six songs competed in the national final on 23 February 1997 where "Niemand heeft nog tijd" was selected as the winning song following the combination of votes from twelve regional juries and a public vote.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 with the song "Fleur de liberté", composed by Jacques Hustin, with lyrics by Franck F. Gérald, and performed by Hustin himself. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Walloon Radio-Télévision Belge (RTB), selected its entry through a national final, after having previously selected the performer internally.
The Netherlands participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "De eerste keer" written by Piet Souer and Peter van Asten. The song was performed by Maxine and Franklin Brown. The Dutch broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) returned to the Eurovision Song Contest after a one-year absence following their relegation in 1995 as one of the bottom six countries in the 1994 contest. NOS organised the national final Nationaal Songfestival 1996 in order to select the Dutch entry for the 1996 contest in Oslo, Norway. Five acts competed in the national final which consisted of six shows: five semi-finals and a final. Five entries qualified from to compete in the final on 3 March 1996 where "De eerste keer" performed by Maxine and Franklin Brown was selected as the winner following the votes from 13 regional juries.
The Netherlands was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 with the song "Ding-a-dong", composed by Dick Bakker, with lyrics by Will Luikinga and Eddy Ouwens, and performed by six-member group Teach-In. The Dutch participating broadcaster, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), selected its entry through a national final. The entry eventually won the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Netherlands was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1976 with the song "The Party's Over", written by Hans van Hemert, and performed by Sandra Reemer. The Dutch participating broadcaster, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), selected its entry through a national final. In addition, NOS was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Nederlands Congresgebouw in The Hague, after winning the previous edition with the song "Ding-a-dong" by Teach-In. This was the second of Reemer's three Eurovision appearances for the Netherlands: she had sung in the 1972 contest in a duo with Dries Holten (Andres), and would also take part in the 1979 contest under the name of Xandra.
The Netherlands was represented by the group Harmony, with the song "'t Is OK", at the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Paris on 22 April. Harmony were the winners of the Dutch national final for the contest, held on 22 February.
The Netherlands was represented by Saskia and Serge, with the song "Tijd", at the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 3 April in Dublin. The song was the winner of the Dutch national final for the contest, held on 24 February. Saskia and Serge were selected internally by broadcaster NOS as the 1971 performers; it is widely thought that this was done in response to the 1970 preselection in which the couple's song "Spinnewiel" was placed runner-up by the juries despite being the overwhelming favourite of the Dutch public.
The Netherlands was represented by Ben Cramer, with the song "De oude muzikant", at the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 7 April in Luxembourg City. Cramer was selected internally by broadcaster NOS to be the Dutch representative and the song was chosen at the national final on 28 February.
Norway was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 with the song "The First Day of Love", composed by Frode Thingnæs, with lyrics by Philip A. Kruse, and performed by Anne-Karine Strøm. The Norwegian participating broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 1974 in order to select its entry for the contest. Strøm had already represented Norway at the 1973 contest as a member of the Bendik Singers, whose other three members provided backing vocals in the 1974 contest.
The Netherlands participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with the song "You and Me" written by Joan Franka and Jessica Hogeboom. The song was performed by Joan Franka. The Dutch broadcaster Televisie Radio Omroep Stichting (TROS) organised the national final Nationaal Songfestival 2012 in order to select the Dutch entry for the 2012 contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. Six entries competed in the national final on 26 February 2012 where the winner was selected over two rounds of voting. The first round consisted of three duels and the winner of each duel qualified to the second round. In the second round, "You and Me" performed by Joan Franka was selected as the winner following the combination of votes from a five-member jury panel and a public vote.
The Netherlands participated in and won the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song "Arcade" written by Duncan Laurence, Joel Sjöö, Wouter Hardy and Will Knox. The song was performed by Duncan Laurence, who was internally selected by the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS to represent the Netherlands at the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv, Israel. Laurence's appointment as the Dutch representative was announced on 21 January 2019, while the song, "Arcade", was presented to the public on 7 March 2019.
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