Dutch say won’t participate in ‘no longer’ neutral Eurovision

The Dutch broadcaster, AVROTROS, announced on Monday that it will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest scheduled for next year. The decision comes after divisions over the Gaza war began to undermine the contest's neutrality. Taco Zimmerman, the Director-General of AVROTROS, stated that international conflicts have increasingly affected the contest, rendering it no longer neutral.

The broadcaster cited the recent boycotts over Israel's participation as the reason for their withdrawal. Earlier this month, Eurovision organizers announced they would exclude any country involved in armed conflicts from hosting the event. However, AVROTROS found these changes insufficient to restore the contest's independent and neutral character.

Next year's Eurovision, set to take place on May 15 in Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Burgas, will mark the first time the Balkan nation hosts the contest. The 2026 event has already lost 35 million viewers since the previous year, with five countries, including the Netherlands, boycotting it due to Israel's participation. The Dutch are the fifth-largest voting bloc in Eurovision history, and their absence will be felt.

AVROTROS expressed regret over their decision, emphasizing their commitment to their values, even if it means stepping away from an event they hold dear. Eurovision's director, Martin Green, acknowledged the decision, stating that they understand and respect the Netherlands' choice. They hope to explore the possibility of another Dutch broadcaster participating in the contest in the future.