Dutch state broadcaster Avrotros said on Monday that the Netherlands will not be taking part in next year's Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).

The event can "no longer be considered neutral," given the war in Gaza, it said.

Eurovision boycotts

This year, the Netherlands was joined by Spain, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia in staging the biggest political boycott in Eurovision history in protest at Israel's participation. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters also marched outside the event. 

Avrotros Director-General Taco Zimmerman said international conflicts were increasingly affecting the contest and "undermining its neutral character," adding that it had "become a platform for division."

Earlier this month, ESC organizers announced new rules that bar any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the competition.

"However, the recently announced ‌changes ... do not provide sufficient confidence that ​the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest ⁠has ​been restored," Avrotros ​said.

The pop spectacle is watched by tens of millions of viewers around the world each year.

Israel came close to winning the competition in 2025 and 2026, placing second in both events.

The 2027 ESC will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, after singer Dara won this year's competition in Vienna, Austria.

The Netherlands and Eurovision: 'Very close to our hearts'

The Netherlands took part in the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956.

They have won it five times since then, most recently in 2019 with Duncan Laurence and his song "Arcade."

According to the Eurovision website, it was the first competition entry to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify.

The country's withdrawal from the next Eurovision is "painful as we would have very much liked to be part of the Contest again next year," Zimmerman said.

"As a public broadcaster, we remain committed to our values. They guide us in everything we do, even when that means stepping away from an event that is very close to our hearts," he added.

Edited by: Rob Turner

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