Following the Netherlands’ withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 over Israel’s participation, Duncan Laurence, the Dutch winner of Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv, backs his country’s decision and speaks out against Israel.
Eurovision 2019 winner Duncan Laurence has spoken out against Israel’s participation in the contest and expressed support for his country’s decision to withdraw from Eurovision due to Israel’s involvement. The Netherlands officially pulled out of the competition last December as a protest move, alongside four other countries: Iceland, Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia. In a recent interview, the Dutch Eurovision winner was asked whether he could see himself returning to the contest in the future.
Laurence won Eurovision 2019, held in Tel Aviv, Israel, with the song “Arcade,” which has since become a global hit and the most‑streamed Eurovision song of all time. Instead of showing gratitude and remembering the warm support and affection he received from audiences in Israel, Laurence now appears to turn his back on his Israeli fanbase. He sides with the decision of the Dutch national broadcaster AVROTROS to withdraw from the contest because of Israel’s participation.
In addition to backing the withdrawal, the singer says he does not see a future for himself at Eurovision, declaring: “Right now, I don’t see myself ever taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest again. I hope something will change, but Eurovision in its current state: no, thank you.”
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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Ofek Jerassi is an Israeli reporter, editor, content creator, and commentator, specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has developed his extensive expertise since childhood, becoming a close follower of the contest. For the past three years, he has served as a writer and editor for EuroMix—Israel’s largest Eurovision website and one of the world’s leading platforms in the field, with over 1.5 million users annually.
Ofek covered Eurovision 2025 on-site in Basel from the press center in the host city, providing EuroMix readers with firsthand experiences, professional analysis, and exclusive reactions from the audience, artists, and experts. His in-depth knowledge and broad familiarity with the Eurovision world are evident in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
In his personal life, Ofek is a medic and avid traveler. He writes out of a genuine love for Eurovision, placing strong emphasis on credibility, professional commentary, and presenting a diverse range of opinions.
