The opposition leader shocks the Netherlands with an unprecedented response following his country’s withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 – Accuses decision-makers of antisemitism and calls to disband AVROTROS.
Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch opposition and head of the right-wing Party for Freedom, has launched a scathing critique against the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS for its decision to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 due to Israel’s participation. Mere minutes after the broadcaster announced the country’s withdrawal, the politician accused the public broadcaster of antisemitism and demanded its disbandment in a social media post.
The politician addressed the public with an unequivocal statement leaving no room for hesitation, writing:
“Antisemitism and hatred of Israel rejected in the ugliest way. Abolish AVROTROS!”
Antisemitisme en walgelijke Israël-haat in zijn lelijkste vorm.
Opheffen die AVROTROS! #songfestival https://t.co/DWn6dHfJ9L
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) December 4, 2025
Many people worldwide agree with Wilders. The Eurovision contest aims to unite European countries on one stage through music, without any reference to politics or wars whatsoever. The Netherlands‘ withdrawal decision, along with the countries Spain, Ireland and Slovenia, causes many fans to feel that the Eurovision contest is no longer what it used to be, and while the contest should focus on joyful and unifying music, numerous countries choose instead to concentrate on spreading hatred and division.
The Netherlands Withdraws from Eurovision
As recalled, the Dutch broadcaster issued a withdrawal statement shortly after the vote at the EBU conference in Geneva, where organization members overwhelmingly approved the new contest rules that led to confirmation of Israel’s participation in the contest:
“The Dutch broadcaster (AVROTROS) has decided not to participate in Eurovision in 2026. The decision was reached after an in-depth process in which information was gathered from a wide range of sources: from the Israeli ambassador to Amnesty International (human rights organization), from the European Broadcasting Union to several European public broadcasters, as well as from internal bodies in the organization such as the association council, the works council, and the supervisory board, alongside thousands of Eurovision fans who contacted us. After weighing all the information, AVROTROS concludes that participation in the contest under the current circumstances does not align with the essential public values it upholds. The decision was made in close coordination with NPO (the Dutch public broadcasting corporation), which respects and supports this consideration. […] On September 12th, 2025, AVROTROS stated that the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza, suppression of press freedom, and political interference during the latest Eurovision edition are incompatible with values that are fundamental to us. In this context, AVROTROS concludes that the participation of the Israeli public broadcaster ‘Kan’ this year no longer aligns with the responsibility we bear as a public broadcaster. Credibility, independence, and humanity serve as our compass in this”.
The Netherlands at Eurovision 2025
“C’est La Vie” is the title of the song performed by Claude, who represented the Netherlands at Eurovision 2025. The Netherlands qualified for the Grand Final after placing third in the first semi-final with 121 points. In the Grand Final, the Netherlands finished in 12th place with 175 points, with the jury awarding the country fifth place, but the public at home ranking it only 15th.
This year, the Netherlands participated in the Grand Final after two years of missing out. In 2023, Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper failed to qualify from the semi-final, while in 2024, Joost Klein was disqualified after the semi-final due to a violent incident involving the competition’s production team.
Eurovision 2025: This was 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.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
