Should We Sit Out Eurovision 2025? Dutch Fans Speak Out After Last Year’s Controversy
As the deadline for the Netherlands to confirm participation in Eurovision 2025 approaches, a national debate is heating up. With the AVROTROS broadcaster having until 15 September to decide, the Dutch public seems more than ready to give its verdict. According to a survey conducted by RTL Nieuwspanel, a striking 58% of respondents believe that the Netherlands should not send an entry to next year’s competition in Basel. And who could blame them, after the bruising and controversial disqualification the country faced last year?
A Painful Disqualification Still Stings
Last year’s Eurovision in Sweden left Dutch Eurovision enthusiasts reeling. The Netherlands was shockingly disqualified, in a move that fans and pundits alike have called both unfair and perplexing. The Dutch entry, widely praised and tipped for a high placement, was eliminated under murky circumstances, leading to widespread frustration. Now, as discussions continue within AVROTROS, the broadcaster remains tight-lipped.
«We’re taking everything into consideration, and we’re not making any statements until a decision is reached,» said Eric Dekker, a representative of AVROTROS, in a conversation with Editie NL. His cautious words did little to calm a fanbase still nursing its wounds from last year’s unexpected blow.
Should Eurovision 2025 Be a Dutch Boycott?
For some, the only proper response to last year’s disqualification is to refuse participation altogether. Katja Zwart, a dedicated Eurovision fan and podcast creator for De Telegraaf, expressed her own conflicted feelings. «As much as it pains me to say it, I hope we don’t take part, purely as a statement,» she explained. «What happened last year was unacceptable. We were disqualified unfairly when we were scoring highly. You can’t undo the past, but the EBU needs to do something to make up for this.»
Zwart’s sentiments are echoed by many in the Dutch fanbase, who feel that stepping back from Eurovision 2025 might be the only way to send a message. After all, a competition meant to bring Europe together has to maintain its integrity, right?
A Hollow Apology Incoming?
But not everyone is so convinced that the Netherlands will pull out. Media expert Mark Koster predicted a more predictable outcome. «We’ll probably receive some half-baked apology from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), just in time for AVROTROS to decide it’s enough for us to participate. And then the whole scandal will have been for nothing.»
Koster’s cynicism reflects a wider frustration: that the wheels of Eurovision will keep turning regardless of last year’s drama, and that the Netherlands will eventually shrug it off and return to the contest, even if it means swallowing its pride.
What About Joost Klein?
If the Netherlands does decide to compete, who should represent the country? The same RTL Nieuwspanel survey posed this question to the Dutch public. A notable 47% responded that Joost Klein, last year’s embattled representative, should return. Whether this is out of loyalty, a desire for redemption, or simply because the Dutch love a good comeback story, it’s clear that Klein still holds a special place in the hearts of many fans.
Final Thoughts: To Sing or Not to Sing?
As the 15 September deadline looms, Dutch Eurovision fans, the media, and AVRO TROS are left grappling with a difficult decision. Should the Netherlands step back and make a powerful statement, or return to the Eurovision stage with its head held high?
For now, one thing is clear: Eurovision 2025 has already sparked controversy in the Netherlands before a single note has even been sung. Whether or not the Dutch take the stage in Basel, the conversation around fairness, national pride, and the power of music will continue to resonate.
Source: RTL
