Netherlands withdraws from ‘no longer’ neutral Eurovision

The Netherlands has decided not to participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, according to its broadcaster, AVROTROS. The broadcaster cited the increasing influence of international conflicts on the event's neutrality as the reason for its withdrawal. TV presenter Taco Zimmerman, AVROTROS' Director-General, stated that the contest has become a platform for division given the ongoing Gaza war.

Earlier this month, Eurovision organizers announced they would exclude any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the competition. However, the broadcaster maintains that these changes do not reassure them that the Eurovision Song Contest has restored its independent and neutral character. Israel had previously come close to winning the competition in 2025 and 2026, finishing second both times.

Next year's event will be held in Bulgaria on May 15, marking the first time the Balkan nation hosts the contest. AVROTROS had previously won the contest in 2019, with Duncan Laurence's song Arcade. The Dutch were among five countries that boycotted the 2026 contest over its involvement with Israel. The Netherlands' withdrawal is described as "painful" by AVROTROS, as the country has taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest five times and won on five occasions.

The most recent winner was Duncan Laurence, whose song Arcade topped charts globally and became the first Eurovision entry to reach one billion streams on Spotify. Eurovision's director, Martin Green, regretted the decision but understood and respected the broadcaster's choice. He expressed hope that Dutch audiences and artists can still be represented in the contest.