One of the artists formerly in the running to represent The Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, Marnix Emanuel, officially released his own entry for Eurovision called “Gentle” via live performance on television.
Just a few days after the official announcement from NPO that The Netherlands would be officially pulling out of Eurovision 2027, we get to hear what may have been their entry for the contest. Along with Davina Michelle and Tangerine, Marnix Emanuel was slated to be a potential artist for The Netherlands and was even hinted at being a major contender for the coveted spot on the big stage in Burgas, Bulgaria.
Up And Down Journey
On October 31st, 2026, the TV program Even tot hier aired a segment on Eurovision hosted by Niels van der Laan and Jeroen Woe. In the discussion, the presenters spoke about various topics including the song, of course, but also mentioned the circumstances and difficulties that NPO was forced to go through, including finding a broadcaster willing to take responsibility for the country’s participation. Marnix Emanuel had his own perspective on the situation, saying that “as an artist you dream of sharing your music on such a big stage…the back-and-forth is of course disappointing”. Eventually, the segment culminated in the artist’s live performance of “Gentle”, the very first time the song was released to the public.
The Song And Its Hope
Like its name would suggest, “Gentle” is a soft pop ballad with a piano background and subtle orchestration, displaying Marnix Emanuel’s clear vocals and emotional expression. According to the singer, the track’s overarching message is to be kind and compassionate and the need for unity particularly when we have differences with one another. It rings especially true nowadays in light of the recent disappointment of the Dutch pulling out due to the internal political fractures within the NPO umbrella over the participation of Israel. “Gentle” radiates a hopeful feeling along with a gentle reminder to be gracious and treat to one another as human beings with dignity and love.
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C'est La Vie
NetherlandsClaude represented Netherlands at Eurovision 2025 with “C'est La Vie”. The entry finished 12th in the grand final with 175 points.
Netherlands competed at Eurovision 65 times between 1956 and 2025. The country has won five times, most recently in 2019 with Duncan Laurence’s “Arcade”. In 2025, Claude represented Netherlands with “C'est La Vie”, finishing 12th in the grand final with 175 points.
