The Netherlands is officially returning to Eurovision 2027, but not through AVROTROS.
After months of uncertainty, Dutch public broadcasting organisation NPO has found a new route back to the contest, and babes, the Dutch Eurovision situation now needs its own flowchart.
The Netherlands will compete at the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 in Burgas, Bulgaria, despite AVROTROS deciding last month that it would no longer take responsibility for the Dutch entry.
Instead, NPO will coordinate a completely new Eurovision structure, with an independent team selecting and supporting the Dutch act and NOS handling the television coverage and commentary.
So yes: the Netherlands is back.
AVROTROS? Still out.
Confused? Grab a cuppa. Here’s what is actually happening.
Why is the Netherlands returning to Eurovision 2027?
On 23 September, NPO confirmed that the Netherlands would return to the Eurovision Song Contest from 2027.
The announcement followed discussions between NPO and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) after AVROTROS withdrew from responsibility for the Dutch entry.
NPO says the EBU has since taken what it considers important steps regarding Eurovision’s rules, partly following criticism and discussions involving several public broadcasters.
NPO chair Jet de Ranitz acknowledged that returning to Eurovision could create “mixed feelings” in the Netherlands, but said the broadcaster wants Eurovision’s original aim of bringing people together to become central to the contest again.
The EBU has welcomed the decision and confirmed that the Netherlands will return to the Eurovision stage in Burgas next May.
But AVROTROS still isn’t returning
And this is where things become very Eurovision.
On 24 August, AVROTROS announced that it would not take part in Eurovision 2027 and returned responsibility for the Dutch participation to NPO.
AVROTROS said geopolitical tensions surrounding the contest had become too significant and argued that recently announced EBU changes did not give it enough confidence that Eurovision’s independent and neutral character had been restored.
The broadcaster also cited humanitarian suffering in Gaza and concerns around press freedom when explaining its position.
That decision has not been reversed.
Instead, NPO has effectively created another route for the Netherlands to participate without AVROTROS controlling the entry.
So calling this simply an “AVROTROS U-turn” would be wrong.
There has been no AVROTROS U-turn.
The Netherlands is returning because NPO has taken over coordination and redesigned how the Dutch Eurovision operation works.
How will the Netherlands choose its Eurovision 2027 act?
From 2027, responsibility for the Dutch Eurovision entry and responsibility for covering the contest will be separated.
An independent team of experts will select and support the artist representing the Netherlands, with NPO coordinating the overall project and drawing on expertise from across Dutch public broadcasting.
Meanwhile, NOS will provide the previews, reporting and commentary.
NOS will not choose or manage the artist, allowing its Eurovision journalism and coverage to remain separate from the Dutch entry itself.
It’s a rather major shake-up after AVROTROS had managed the Netherlands’ participation since 2014.
And honestly? Eurovision loves a format change almost as much as it loves a key change.
The Dutch shows will be broadcast on NPO 1 and NPO Start.
Who will actually represent the Netherlands?
That part is still a mystery.
NPO says the artist will be announced at a later date.
The Netherlands is back — but Eurovision’s debate isn’t over
The Dutch return does not mean that all the controversy surrounding Eurovision has suddenly disappeared under a cloud of glitter.
AVROTROS continues to stand by its decision not to participate as the responsible broadcaster, while NPO believes remaining inside Eurovision gives Dutch public broadcasting an opportunity to influence the direction of the contest.
Those are two different positions existing within the same public broadcasting system.
And that makes the Netherlands’ Eurovision 2027 return particularly interesting.
A country can be back without the broadcaster that traditionally took it there.
Only Eurovision, babes.
For now, the Dutch flag will be flying again in Burgas.
After all this drama, though, that song had better be an absolute banger.
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