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Netherlands Withdraws From Eurovision Over Israel Participation
Confirmed
In Short: The Netherlands has withdrawn from the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, citing sensitivities over Israel's participation, according to a statement by the country's public broadcaster NPO.
NPO's media director Jurre Bosman said, 'We have known for some time that Israel’s participation elicits various reactions in society and causes discussion and division.'
AVROTROS, which usually selects the Netherlands' entry and broadcasts the show, had previously announced its boycott of the competition in August, stating the event could 'no longer be considered neutral.'
The broadcaster's executive chairman, Jet de Ranitz, acknowledged that the decision would disappoint many Dutch Eurovision fans, but stressed that the contest will still be aired on public channels.
The Netherlands' withdrawal follows a similar decision by the Czech broadcaster earlier this month, citing spending cuts as the reason.
The Dutch decision brings to an end a series of flip-flops over its participation, highlighting the divisive nature of the debate in the country and more broadly.
Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green expressed regret over the Netherlands' withdrawal, saying, 'We understand their decision, and we respect the strength of feeling behind it.'
The contest, which will be hosted by Bulgaria in Burgas, drew 130 million viewers around the world in 2026, down from 160 million in 2025.
The Netherlands had previously reversed its decision to re-enter the contest, citing 'sensitivities' around the event.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the show, acknowledged the sensitivities surrounding the themes currently at play, leading to the Netherlands' decision to step back for the time being.
What this adds
The Netherlands' withdrawal is part of a broader trend of countries reconsidering their participation in Eurovision due to geopolitical tensions.
What's confirmed
- The Netherlands has withdrawn from next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, its public broadcaster NPO has confirmed, citing “sensitivities” over Israel’s participation.
- “Therefore, after consultation with the board of broadcasters, the NPO has decided to forgo participation in 2027.” The announcement follows a decision in August by Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS to boycott the competition.
- AVROTROS, which usually selects the Netherlands’ entry and broadcasts the show, said the event could “no longer be considered neutral”.
- “We have known for some time that Israel’s participation elicits various reactions in society and causes discussion and division,” the NPO’s media director Jurre Bosman said in a statement.
- Earlier this month, the Czech broadcaster also pulled out of next year’s event, but cited spending cuts as the reason.
- Jet de Ranitz, NPO’s executive chairman, acknowledged this would disappoint many Dutch Eurovision fans and stressed that the contest will still be aired on the public channels.
- The Dutch decision brings to an end a series of flip-flops over its participation, highlighting the divisive nature of the debate in the country and more broadly.
What's still developing
- Bulgaria will host next year’s edition of Eurovision for the first time in the Black Sea city of Burgas, after Bulgarian singer Darina Yotova, known as Dara, won this year’s contest in Vienna, Austria, with her catchy floor-filler ‘Bangaranga’.
- Green said they looked forward to welcoming a Dutch entry again when they "feel the time is right".
- It intended to structure the participation through an external team of experts, with the option for individual members of broadcasters to contribute.
- The development follows the country's absence from Eurovision in 2026, when the Netherlands stayed out of the contest for the first time in 24 years, citing Israel's participation and the consequences of the war in Gaza.
- Broadcaster AVROTROS argues that Eurovision can no longer be considered neutral as long as one of the participating countries is involved in a large-scale military conflict.
- Ireland, one of the most successful countries in Eurovision history, has won the competition seven times, a record it shares with Sweden.
- RTÉ said that participation could not be justified amid the loss of human life and the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which continues to severely affect the civilian population.
- Tensions rose again after Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed some 1,200 people, and Israel's subsequent campaign in Gaza that has left more than 70,000 people dead.
- They took serious issue with NPO giving more weight to “the desire to participate in an entertainment program” than to the “countless human lives lost” in Gaza.
- Last month, NPO said it had decided to “carefully” return to the 2027 contest after “extensive discussions” with the European Broadcasting Union, noting that the “sensitivities have not gone away” that led to the initial boycott.
- “In our coordinating role, we held discussions with the broadcasters to investigate whether there are any broadcasters willing to facilitate the participation of a Dutch artist. In those discussions, we initially felt there was sufficient support to return,” De Ranitz said.