Dutch Eurovision commentator Cornald Maas has provided an update on the Netherlands’ search for an artist to represent them at Eurovision 2025.
He was joined by Dutch radio personality Hila Noorzai on the talk show Eva, where he gave some further details about the Dutch search for a Eurovision act. AVROTROS has opened submissions for its Eurovision 2025 selection after their 2024 artist, Joost Klein, declined an offer to represent them again in Basel.
During the interview, Cornald hinted that “big names” were still interested in competing at Eurovision:
Also from people of name and fame, who may now say that they do not want to participate, but secretly do register.
However, Cornald and Hila both said that they weren’t just looking for bigger artists in the selection process. The broadcasters have said that AVROTROS is open to any entry – Maas name-checked Rob Kemps, a Dutch artist who shared an open application on his Instagram account, as an example of someone they would consider.
When pressed on who the “big names” might be, Cornald and Hila declined to comment. One name that was suggested by the talk show’s host, Eva Jinek, was Eurovision 2013 representative Anouk. Hila Noorzai said that “we’d be happy to call” Anouk, but Cornald claimed that “we don’t call the artists ourselves”.
The entry for the Netherlands at Eurovision 2025 will be decided by a selection committee at AVROTROS. There are six people in the group, of which Cornald and Hila are members:
- Jacqueline Govaert
- Jaap Reesema
- Carolien Borgers
- Hila Noorzai
- Cornald Maas
- Sander Lantinga
New Dutch Head of Delegation Claudia van der Pas will also attend the committee’s meetings but she will not have a vote in determining the Dutch entry.
Submissions are open until Friday, November 22, 2024, at 11:59 PM. Interested artists, composers, lyricists, producers, and record labels can submit their entries via songfestival@avrotros.nl.
Image Source: Talent Talks | Source: RTL
The Netherlands debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and has gone on to compete in all bar four contests. To date the Netherlands has won the contest on five occasions; 1957, 1959, 1969, 1975 and most recently 2019. Prior to Duncan Laurence’s victory in Tel Aviv, the Netherlands had been waiting 44 years for their next victory. Duncan Laurence won the contest in Israel with the song “Arcade”.
Tags: eurovision 2025 Headline netherlands
