The Netherlands will take part in the Eurovision Song Contest again in 2027, ending a two-year absence, after the public broadcaster NPO assumed responsibility for the country's entry. The decision comes despite the previous broadcaster, AVROTROS, maintaining its opposition to participation over Israel's involvement and the war in Gaza.
AVROTROS, which had handled the Dutch entry for decades, withdrew from the 2026 contest and had said it would also skip 2027, arguing that the competition could no longer be seen as neutral. Taco Zimmerman, the director-general of AVROTROS, said in a statement: "It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the Contest, undermining its neutral character. The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division."
Now, the NPO, which oversees public broadcasting in the Netherlands, has stepped in. Coverage of the contest will be provided by NOS, while an independent panel of experts will select the Dutch act. Jurre Bosman, NPO's director of media, said: "It is important that, as a public broadcaster, we remain part of this unifying European event at this moment in particular."
A shift in Dutch broadcasting
The move marks a significant change in how the Netherlands approaches Eurovision. AVROTROS had been a vocal critic of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) over its handling of Israel's participation, and its withdrawal left a gap that the NPO has now filled. The NPO's decision to take over suggests a desire to maintain a Dutch presence in the contest, even as political tensions continue to simmer.
Eurovision director Martin Green welcomed the news. "We are delighted to welcome the Netherlands back to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027," he said. "We value the constructive conversations we have had with NPO and look forward to working together to reinforce the Contest as a place that truly reflects the spirit of 'United By Music'."
The Netherlands' return comes as Eurovision grapples with the fallout from Israel's participation. Five countries—Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—withdrew from the 2026 contest over the issue. Ireland has already confirmed it will boycott for a second year in 2027, citing the "appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza."
Spain is now weighing whether to follow suit. José Pablo López, the president of RTVE, said this week that he would recommend Spain remain out of the 2027 contest. He described it as "deeply painful" that Israel's public broadcaster would still be eligible to compete "despite everything, and given this situation that is still being experienced in Gaza." A final decision has not yet been made by RTVE.
The debate over Israel's participation has become a defining issue for Eurovision, pitting those who see the contest as a non-political cultural event against those who argue that participation lends legitimacy to a country accused of human rights violations. The RTVE chief's backing for a boycott underscores the depth of feeling in Spain.
For the Netherlands, the return under NPO may signal a pragmatic approach, but it does not resolve the underlying tensions. The country's decision to rejoin while AVROTROS remains opposed highlights the broader divisions within European broadcasting. As the 2027 contest approaches, the question of who participates—and who stays away—will likely remain a flashpoint.
In the meantime, the EBU is hoping that the Netherlands' return will help restore some stability. But with Spain's decision still pending, and Ireland already out, the path to a fully unified Eurovision remains uncertain. The contest's motto, "United By Music," has rarely felt more aspirational.
