The Netherlands at Eurovision 2025: Singer Claude reveals the behind-the-scenes pressure, what he packed in his suitcase – and what will really happen on stage in Basel.
Last night, the Netherlands’ representative for Eurovision 2025, Claude, flew to Switzerland on his way to his debut performance on the Eurovision Song Contest stage. The 21-year-old singer will perform on May 13th as the 13th act in the running order of the first semi-final, singing his song “C’est la vie“. Just before departing from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, Claude excitedly shared details about his final preparations and the pressure accompanying this new experience – revealing surprising information about his Eurovision stage performance.
Claude’s Final Preparations: Books, a Doll, and a Lucky Keychain
According to Claude, the preparations for the trip were especially intense. He visited the hairdresser as late as 01:00 AM to be ready for the show.
“I was up late packing, barely able to decide what to bring”.
he revealed. Among the items he packed were books, hair care products, clothes, and of course – the Bible, which he described as “very important to me”.
Claude also shared a touching gesture from a fan – a small doll with the inscription “Eurovision”, which he said immediately found its place in his suitcase and will serve as a lucky charm. Additionally, he took with him a keychain shaped like an angel, which he believes will also bring good luck on the road to success.
What to Expect on Stage – and What Not to Expect?
Claude’s first rehearsal on the main stage in Basel is scheduled for today (Sunday). The official performance in the first semi-final will take place on May 13th, and if enough viewers vote for him and he reaches the top 10, Claude will return to the stage for the grand final on May 17th.
But what about the staging and surprises during the performance? Here, Claude chose to remain relatively vague. “You’ll see for yourselves soon”, he promised without revealing much more. What he did confirm, however, is that the famous dance break from the music video will not be performed live. He chose to keep this decision mysterious, which only heightens the anticipation to see what is planned for the big stage.
The Family Experience and Behind-the-Scenes Pressure
Despite his great excitement, Claude admits he still cannot fully imagine the feeling of nearly 200 million viewers worldwide watching him live. He confessed:
“I’m most looking forward to the semi-final, because then I’ll really be part of this big circus. I still can’t imagine how it will feel when so many eyes are on me”.
What about his family? His mother and sisters will come to watch him live in the arena on Tuesday, but Claude is unsure if he will find time to meet them during his stay. He explained, adding with a smile:
“I think I want to stay in my bubble, fully focused on Eurovision, […] My mom probably won’t agree. She’ll just come to my hotel and suddenly stand at the door”.
High Chances for the Final – And What About Winning?
Betting odds are especially favorable for Claude. According to recent reports, the Netherlands’ chances of qualifying for the final stand at 95 percent – a figure marking the song as a very strong contender this year. Not only that, but the odds also predict a very high placement at the end of the competition, with forecasts placing him in the top five of the final – in a tight race alongside Israel’s representative, Yuval Raphael.
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: AD.
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.
