The Netherlands announced Tuesday that it will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, reversing a decision made just over a month ago to return to the competition despite Israel's participation. The Dutch public broadcasting organization NPO said it had failed to secure sufficient support among its member broadcasters to organize a national entry.
NPO chair Jet de Ranitz said discussions with broadcasters had initially suggested there was enough support for a comeback, but no workable arrangement could be found. She said the ongoing sensitivities surrounding the competition made it too early for the Netherlands to return in 2027.
Noam Bettan and Lihi Freud on the Eurovision stage
(Photo: Yuval Chen)
NPO media director Jurre Bosman acknowledged that Israel's participation had generated deep divisions among Dutch broadcasters and employees. He said the organization would send artists and staff to the competition only if they received full support from participating broadcasters. NPO also decided against compelling another broadcaster, NTR, to organize the Dutch entry.
The decision follows the August withdrawal of AVROTROS, the broadcaster traditionally responsible for the Dutch Eurovision entry, which cited the humanitarian situation in Gaza and concerns about the contest's neutrality. NPO subsequently announced in September that the Netherlands would return under a different arrangement, but Tuesday's decision overturns that plan.
Despite the withdrawal, Dutch audiences will still be able to watch the semifinals and final, with NOS providing commentary and coverage. The 2027 contest is scheduled to take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, in May.