Netherlands has confirmed it will return to participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest following its boycott of this year's competition.
The U-turn comes after responsibility for managing the country's entry was transferred from Dutch public service broadcaster Avrotros over to NPO.
When Avrotros withdrew in August, it indicated that Israel’s continued involvement influenced the decision, pointing toward "humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing restrictions on press freedom".
In a statement published on NPO’s website, the network explained that Avrotros stepped down due to "sensitivities" surrounding the contest, confirming that NPO will instead select a Dutch entry for 2027.
This follows new rule changes introduced by Eurovision organisers for 2027, under which a winning broadcaster will "automatically be ineligible to host" if their nation is involved in an "armed conflict" or a "sensitive geopolitical situation".
According to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), these updates were implemented after receiving feedback from participant broadcasters, providing clearer guidelines for artists and crew.
The NPO statement read: “Those sensitivities have not gone away. Over the past period, the NPO has held extensive discussions with the EBU about this.
“In the meantime, the EBU has taken important steps regarding the rules of the Eurovision Song Contest.
“These changes came about partly thanks to critical public broadcasters that engaged in the debate.
“In the discussions that followed Avrotros’s withdrawal, we agreed with the EBU to once again place the original starting point of the festival at the heart of the event.”
An independent team of experts will guide the process in selecting the Dutch entry.
The Netherlands was one of a number of countries that boycotted 2026’s event in Vienna, Austria, because of Israel’s continued participation amid its actions in Gaza, along with Iceland, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia.
There were a number of protests in the Austrian capital during Eurovision over Israel’s inclusion in the contest amid its actions in Gaza.
Jet de Ranitz, chair of the board at NPO, said: “We understand that taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest gives rise to mixed feelings in the Netherlands.
“We have explicitly asked the EBU to make the unifying character of the contest a central part of the event once again, in recognition of a time of geopolitical unrest, war and polarisation.
“The song contest was founded to bring the people of Europe together after the Second World War.
“We are seeking that connection again now, by taking account of what is happening in the world, but by making room for a conversation about it.
“To help shape and carry forward that direction, we as Dutch public broadcasting want to be part of the Eurovision Song Contest again.
“That way we can truly live up to United by Music together.”
Next year’s song contest will take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, after the country’s entrant Dara won this year’s event with her song Bangaranga.
Israeli entrant Noam Bettan finished second in the 2026 contest.
Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Netherlands back to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027.
“We value the constructive conversations we have had with NPO and look forward to working together to reinforce the contest as a place that truly reflects the spirit of United by Music.
“In a world that is increasingly divided, the Eurovision Song Contest provides a unique space for people and countries to come together through music, share in a common experience and find connection.”
