The EBU granted NPO a deadline extension for Eurovision 2027 as the Dutch national broadcaster seeks solutions following AVROTROS’s boycott.
Will the Netherlands return to Eurovision? The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) granted a crucial extension to NPO, the Dutch national broadcaster, just one day before the official decision deadline set for September 15th closed. The request for an extension came following the step taken by the Dutch national broadcaster AVROTROS, which refused to take part in Eurovision 2027 in protest of Israel’s presence in the contest. Now, NPO is attempting to explore alternative solutions and resources that would still allow the Netherlands to participate
The Netherlands Granted Extra Time
Following the decision by the Dutch national broadcaster AVROTROS to withdraw from the contest over Israel, the EBU clarified that the country remains eligible to participate in the contest through another national broadcaster operating under NPO. A spokesperson for NPO officially confirmed that discussions with the EBU are continuing intensively, and clarified that a clear picture regarding participation will only be received toward the end of September, rather than today (Tuesday) as originally planned. AVROTROS, which had been responsible for managing Dutch participation in the contest since 2014, left behind uncertainty upon its withdrawal regarding NPO’s ability to find a solution that will bring a Dutch representative to the contest stage in Burgas, Bulgaria – after the Netherlands was absent for just one year.
Granting a decision-making extension is not a new step for the Netherlands. Two years ago, NPO was granted a time extension following the controversy surrounding the disqualification of Joost Klein. Additionally, the Netherlands is not the only country receiving extra time: Hungary was also granted an extension for the registration deadline until December 7th, amid EBU efforts to bring it back to the contest after a prolonged absence.
Ultimately, the goal of the extension is to provide NPO with the necessary time to evaluate all options available to it and to find an alternative national broadcaster under its umbrella. Because of this, the coming weeks will be particularly decisive in determining the future of the Netherlands in Eurovision 2027.
The Hope for a Dutch Return
As a reminder, while the announcement by AVROTROS clarified that it does not intend to return to the Eurovision Song Contest, it did not provide a definitive answer regarding the country’s participation. AVROTROS is only one part of the Dutch public broadcasting system, and NPO is authorized to make changes regarding which national broadcaster is responsible for Eurovision participation. In addition to declaring its non-participation, AVROTROS announced that it is handing responsibility for Eurovision participation back to NPO.
Now, NPO will determine the country’s future in the contest. The organization can choose another national broadcaster that agrees to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and 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 ranked 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.
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Nicole Postelnik is a reporter and commentator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. She has been following the competition since 2015, and since then, her love for Eurovision has grown stronger year after year.
