Dutch pull out of 'no longer neutral' Eurovision
The Netherlands will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria, the state broadcaster has said, citing divisions over the situation in Gaza. It's the second time the country is boycotting the event.
Dutch national television company Avrotros has announced that the Netherlands will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) due to concerns over the contest's neutrality in the context of the ongoing war in Gaza. This marks the biggest political boycott in Eurovision history, joining other nations including Spain, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia who were already boycotting the event in protest of Israel's participation.
Avrotros Director-General Taco Zimmerman stated that international conflicts are increasingly impacting the contest, undermining its neutral character and turning it into a platform for division. The organization's decision stems from the organization's belief that recent changes to the competition rules do not adequately restore its independent and neutral status.
Despite the Netherlands' five previous wins and the song reaching 1 billion streams on Spotify, Avrotros remains committed to its values and will not participate in the next contest, set to take place in Bulgaria.
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