The flag controversy: The EBU faced a strong demand from the Dutch national broadcaster to change Eurovision 2025’s flag policy. Was the demand accepted?
The ongoing controversy surrounding Eurovision 2025, set to take place in less than a week in Basel, shows no signs of abating – did the Netherlands succeed in changing the contest’s rules? In recent days, the Dutch national broadcaster, AVROTROS, formally approached the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) with a request to reconsider the new flag policy that came into effect this year.
The request followed growing public protest in the Netherlands, led by the COC, an LGBTQ+ rights organization, which opposed the guidelines restricting the use of pride flags during the contest.
What’s Behind the Appeal?
The debate over pride flags made headlines after the EBU ruled that, starting this year, only the flag of the represented country may be displayed in “official spaces” – including the stage and green rooms. This decision means the pride flag, a significant symbol for the LGBTQ+ community worldwide, cannot be flown on the Eurovision stage.
The COC organization argued that this move was problematic, stating:
“The pride flag is an expression of your identity, not a political statement”.
The protest sparked widespread public debate, prompting the Dutch national broadcaster to request an urgent meeting with the European Broadcasting Union.
The Dutch Position and Official Response
After the meeting, the Dutch national broadcaster shared its position:
“Although we see this as a missed opportunity, we, like the other 36 countries, respect the rules in place this year, […] We are now focusing on the unifying power of music, believing that the discussion about visibility and representation will be best addressed through cooperation and a long-term perspective”.
Is a Change in Sight?
According to the Dutch broadcaster, the EBU responded that the current rules will remain in place for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel. However, it was stated that after the contest, there will be a willingness to revisit the policy. The Dutch national broadcaster added:
“We note that other countries are also open to the proposal to expand the space for representation, […] But at this time, there is not enough time to change the policy before the festival in Basel”.
The implications are clear: no change will occur this year, but the issue – central to the public discourse around Eurovision – may be reconsidered in the future.
Dutch Clarification: Not Just a Reaction to the Meeting
It is important to note that initially, the Dutch national broadcaster showed understanding towards the new policy, but later shifted its stance and decided to submit an official objection. The broadcaster clarified that this decision was not solely a result of the meeting with the LGBTQ+ rights organization, stating:
“We had already expressed regret over the exclusion of LGBTQ+ flags”.
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: nu.nl.
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.
