The Netherlands will miss Eurovision for a second consecutive year after Dutch broadcaster NPO said Tuesday it would not send a 2027 entry, citing divisions over Israel and a lack of a workable broadcaster arrangement.
NPO said its return discussions initially appeared to have backing, but did not produce a suitable structure for an entry. The broadcaster said it would not require another organization to take responsibility for Dutch participation.
Media director Jurre Bosman said disagreement about Israel competing was felt across Dutch society and among broadcasters and their employees. NPO chair Jet de Ranitz characterized the decision as a temporary pause, prompted by the issue’s sensitivities.
The announcement reverses NPO’s Sept. 23 plan for a Dutch return through a joint project involving public broadcasters. Under that proposal, an independent team would choose and support the act, while NOS would cover the competition.
AVROTROS, which managed the Dutch entry from 2014 through 2025, announced Aug. 24 that it would also sit out the 2027 contest. The broadcaster said the continuing conflict involving a participating country had weakened its confidence in the contest’s neutrality.
The Netherlands was among five countries that did not compete in the 2026 edition amid protests over Israel’s participation, the Associated Press reported. Ireland, Iceland, Spain and Slovenia were also absent. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said the Netherlands had taken part since the contest’s first edition in 1956.
NPO said NOS will show the 2027 semifinals and final with Dutch commentary. The EBU confirmed the event would still be broadcast in the Netherlands and said it would continue discussions with NPO and Dutch fans about a possible return. Eurovision director Martin Green said the EBU understood NPO’s decision and respected the strength of feeling in the Netherlands.
The 2027 contest is scheduled for May 11, 13 and 15 in Burgas, Bulgaria.
