After announcing her retirement from music, Eurovision winner Lenny Kuhr makes another surprising move: citing hostility toward Jews in the Netherlands and her husband’s health, she’s moving to Israel.
After her retirement announcement, Lenny Kuhr, one of the most significant voices in Dutch music and one of the four winners of Eurovision 1969, revealed in an interview held yesterday (Wednesday) that she will leave the Netherlands and immigrate to Israel. As she explained, “the atmosphere toward Jews in the Netherlands is no longer good”.
It appears that Kuhr faced multiple reasons for leaving her homeland – among them, her husband Rob Frank’s deteriorating health and the hostility she received due to her outspoken support for Israel. For her, retirement felt like a natural signal, even though she is still able to sing and perform:
“My voice is still good, I feel fine, and my show is going great. But I’ve received signs that I should stop”.
Reasons Behind Lenny Kuhr’s Retirement
Lenny Kuhr announced her retirement for two main reasons. First, her husband Rob Frank’s health has declined, as she shared about a week ago:
“My husband said he couldn’t endure another year. We did everything together – Rob was my manager, he handled bookings, cooked for the band, managed the merchandise stand at concerts – he was an inseparable part of the team. Now that he can’t continue, I must follow him, and it hurts my heart deeply”.
The second reason is the growing hostility she has faced in the Netherlands because of her vocal support of Israel and Judaism. A notable example is the Dutch national broadcaster NPO, which reportedly disapproved of her appearance on the show “Beste Zangers” and canceled her participation at the last minute.
Why Lenny Kuhr Chose Israel?
Lenny Kuhr converted to Judaism at age 25 and has long maintained close ties with Israel – having lived there, given birth to her second daughter Daphna, and performed for wounded soldiers. After her final concert scheduled for May, she and her husband will leave the Netherlands and settle in Israel, where they are now seeking a home close to their children. She explained:
“We decided to move to Israel. The atmosphere toward Jews here in the Netherlands is no longer good. Moreover, my children live there, so it makes sense to relocate. We are very welcome there”.
Despite the hostility she currently faces in the Netherlands, she leaves her country with gratitude, saying:
“So many loving fans, so many beautiful moments I got to experience”.
When asked about the highlight of her career in the Netherlands, she hesitated before replying:
“Of course, memories of the 1969 Eurovision come to mind – I won the gold, it was wonderful. But really, my entire life as a singer-songwriter has been one long summit. I could not have imagined a more beautiful life”.
Continuing to Create in Israel: What’s Next for Lenny Kuhr?
Although Lenny Kuhr has retired from professional singing, she does not intend to stop performing. With her voice still strong, she plans to continue as a creator rather than start a new career:
“I don’t yet know exactly what I’ll do in Israel – I won’t start a new career there. My daughters and sons-in-law are musicians, so I’ll surely keep composing songs and hope to share them on Spotify”.
At the age of 75, she reflects on her six-decade career in the Netherlands with immense appreciation:
“I feel an enormous sense of gratitude. I’m thankful that I was able to do everything at the highest level, even at this age”.
Lenny Kuhr’s Life: From Madrid to the Eurovision Record Books
Kuhr began her musical career in 1967 and recorded approximately 25 studio albums between 1969 and 2005. She secured her place in European music history when she represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 1969 in Madrid with the song “De Troubadour”, which she co-wrote.
That year’s contest became one of the most iconic in Eurovision history. For the first time, and for many years the only time, the voting ended in a four-way tie. The Netherlands, Spain, France and the United Kingdom were all declared joint winners, as no tie-breaking rule existed at the time. It marked the Netherlands’ third victory in the competition.
Kuhr also made history as the first woman to write a winning Eurovision entry and the first female winner to accompany herself on an instrument on stage.
Public Controversy in Recent Years
Much of the criticism directed at Kuhr followed her public support for Israel, which placed her at odds with activists amid the increasingly polarised climate surrounding Eurovision. Kuhr, who converted to Judaism and lived in Israel for several years, has maintained close ties to the country. Her two daughters currently reside in Israel with their families, and some of her grandchildren serve in the Israeli army. Over the years, she has consistently spoken publicly in support of Israel and has not shied away from expressing her views.
In recent years, Kuhr has found herself at the centre of public debate. In March 2024, one of her performances was disrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators who stormed the event and reportedly called her “murderer” and “terrorist”.
Amid controversy surrounding Israel participation in the contest, Kuhr addressed the debate in an interview with Dutch radio, stating:
I find it incomprehensible and very sad. Art is a way to connect people, and when you boycott Israel – you deny that possibility and take an aggressive stance. If Israel is not allowed to participate, then as an artist – I would not want to participate either”.
She added:
“I love Eurovision, it has been a part of me for decades, and what is happening now hurts me deeply. My greatest wish is – let art remain free, don’t interfere with it”.
Now, after a career spanning six decades, from the historic stage in Madrid to a lifetime in music, Kuhr has chosen to step away from performing, citing both personal circumstances and a climate of division that has shaped the contest in recent years.
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.
