“It’s wrong to ban these flags at Eurovision”: The Netherlands launches a new battle against the EBU over the new flag policy. What’s behind the move?
The controversy surrounding Eurovision 2025, set to take place in just over a week in Basel, shows no signs of stopping—and this time, the Netherlands is at the forefront of the struggle. The Dutch national broadcaster, AVROTROS, officially announced that it will file an objection to the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) new flag policy, which limits participating countries to displaying only their national flags during Eurovision.
The decision was made by the broadcaster’s management after a meeting with the Dutch LGBTQ+ rights organization “COC,” as reported by Dutch news outlet AD.
The New Directive: National Flags Only
According to the new flag policy, set to come into effect at Eurovision 2025, only national flags will be allowed in the official areas of the contest—including onstage and in the green room, where contestants await the results. The policy applies to a range of flags: the Pride flag (rainbow), the Palestinian flag, and even the flag of the European Union.
The Dutch national broadcaster clarified that the EBU implemented this policy to maintain Eurovision as a “politics-free event.” Under the new directive, only the participating country’s flag will be displayed during official moments such as the parade of nations before performances.
The Dutch Fight: Pride Is Not Politics
Despite initial understanding, the Dutch emphasize that Pride flags are not a political symbol and therefore should not fall under the same restrictions. In an official statement from the broadcaster, it was noted: “We want to explore whether we can make a difference. We hope that the EBU is open to it.”
The meeting between the national broadcaster and the LGBTQ+ rights organization was described by the group as “pleasant and constructive,” and they expressed firm support for the broadcaster’s move. In another statement, they added: “Especially in times like these, when LGBTQ+ human rights are under pressure, it sends the wrong message to ban these flags at Eurovision.”
Not Just Because of the Meeting: A Clarification from the Netherlands
It is important to note that the Dutch national broadcaster initially showed understanding toward the new policy but has recently changed its stance and decided to submit the official objection. The broadcaster clarified that this decision was not made solely as a result of the meeting with the LGBTQ+ rights organization, stating: “Even earlier, we expressed regret over the exclusion of LGBTQ+ flags.”
A Test for Eurovision’s Values: Inclusion or Regulation?
This issue is expected to remain a hot topic in the Eurovision world in the coming days, as it touches the core values upon which the event is built—inclusion, love, and equality. The big question remains: will the EBU stand firm on its strict guidelines, or will it choose to listen to the community’s calls and change direction?
Netherlands at Eurovision 2025
“C’est La Vie” (in English: “That’s life”) is the name of the song to be performed by the singer Claude who will represent the Netherlands in the second part of the first semi-final of Eurovision 2025 to be held on May 13th in Basel, Switzerland.
The song was written by the singer himself along with Arno Krabman who is responsible for the song “De Diepte” (in English: “The Depth”) that represented the Netherlands in 2022 and reached 11th place in the grand final. In addition to these creators, the creators Joren van der Voort and Léon Palmen are involved in the writing and production of the song. Apart from Krabman, this is the first song by the other creators in the Eurovision competition. The song is performed in English and French. The song “C’est la vie” blends childhood memories with a burst of nostalgia and a deep reflection on the cyclicality and rotations of life.
Currently, the singer is ranked fifth in the betting tables, with a 5% chance of winning.
Who is Claude?
Claude Kiambe, 21 years old, was born in Congo and moved to the Netherlands with his family at the age of 13. The first Eurovision he watched was in 2014, when he and his family cheered for the winning singer Conchita Wurst from Austria. Since then, Claude has been an avid follower of the Eurovision contest. He began releasing music in 2022, with his debut single “Ladada (Mon Dernier Mot)” (in English: Ladada (My Last Word)). His song reached about 53 million views and won the 3FM award for “Best New Discovery.”
Claude released his debut album in 2024, in which he co-wrote and co-composed every song. Since then, he and his band have been performing extensively in the Netherlands and neighboring Belgium. His debut hit, for which he made English and French versions, achieved international success in about 15 countries worldwide, making Claude a globally recognized singer.
After the announcement of his selection, the Dutch singer said: “I feel extremely honoured that I will represent the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest next year and I still can’t believe it. I’m really looking forward to it and can’t wait to present my song to Europe.”
Source: nltimes
Eurovision 2025: This will be the Netherlands’ 65th participation in Eurovision. The Netherlands joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won it five times over the years. The Netherlands’ last victory was at Eurovision 2019 with the song “Arcade” performed by singer Duncan Laurence.
