Ilse DeLange is ready to assist NPO as the Dutch broadcaster considers its Eurovision 2027 participation following AVROTROS’s withdrawal.
The question of the Netherlands’ participation in Eurovision 2027 remains up in the air following recent controversies. While the Dutch national broadcaster AVROTROS announced it will not take part in the 2027 contest in Burgas, Bulgaria, the Dutch public broadcasting organization NPO is exploring alternatives. Now, a local star and Eurovision veteran is offering her assistance to support the Dutch delegation.
Ilse DeLange, who represented the Netherlands in Eurovision 2014 and finished second as part of The Common Linnets with the song “Calm After The Storm“, clarified in an interview with RTL.nl that she is ready to help the Dutch delegation if her experience is needed. “They have my number, so they can always call,” the 49-year-old singer said when asked about supporting the evaluating national broadcaster NPO.
A Proven Eurovision Track Record
DeLange’s Eurovision career includes major milestones. Five years after her second-place finish, she played a key role in the Dutch delegation at Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv, where the country ultimately won the contest with the song “Arcade” by Duncan Laurence.
Focus on the Artistic Process
DeLange believes that as the nation navigates its next steps following recent organizational shifts, her artistic experience could provide valuable guidance: “I have no idea how all of that works behind the scenes and what is needed organizationally, but I do know a lot about the artistic side of things and the process involved.”
When asked whether she would return as a performer rather than just a mentor, she left the door open: “I always say: never say never, so I’m saying that again now,” she laughed. It remains to be seen whether the Dutch national broadcaster NPO will take up her offer, leverage DeLange’s experience, and whether the Netherlands will return to compete in Eurovision 2027.
The Hope for a Dutch Comeback
While the announcement from AVROTROS made it clear that it does not intend to return to the Eurovision Song Contest, it did not provide a definitive final answer regarding the country’s overall participation. AVROTROS is only one part of the Dutch public broadcasting system, and the Dutch public broadcasting organization NPO has the authority to reassign responsibility for Eurovision participation to another network. This morning, alongside its non-participation announcement, AVROTROS declared that it is handing full responsibility for Eurovision participation back to NPO.
Now, the Dutch public broadcasting organization will determine the country’s future in the contest. The organization could select a different national broadcaster willing to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest, meaning that despite the boycott by AVROTROS, the Netherlands may still return to the competition.
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.
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.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +972-50-9441919
Tal Dahan – Journalist, radio broadcaster, and Eurovision content creator.
Tal Dahan is an Israeli journalist and editor specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest, working with the EuroMix editorial team for four years. Since 2022, she has provided regular on-site coverage of Eurovision from the host city, and from 2023 has also reported directly from the press room—offering the Israeli audience live updates, exclusive interviews, and in-depth commentary.
Tal is a member of the Eurovision tribute and parody band “EuroFalsh,” a radio broadcaster, and a student of political science and communications.
She is considered one of Israel’s leading young Eurovision experts. In addition to covering the main contest, Tal has reported from Eurovision pre-parties and national selection events across Europe (in Thessaloniki, Stockholm, Madrid, and more), been interviewed by major media outlets in Israel and internationally, and presented Eurovision-themed podcasts and radio shows.
