Dutch Eurovision letter writers consider next steps after NPO talks

The organisers of #nietmijnsongfestival are considering further action after meeting the Dutch public broadcasting organisation NPO, Nieuws.nl reported. Their letter was signed by 485 public broadcasting employees.

The organisers said they valued Monday’s discussion with NPO chair Jet de Ranitz and communications chief Daan Jansen, but remained unhappy with the organisation’s position on future participation alongside Israel. They said they would consider their next steps in the coming weeks.

They want Israel excluded from the contest before a Dutch return is considered, for as long as it continues what they describe as its oppression and mass killing of Palestinians.

The NPO had already decided on 27 October not to send a Dutch act to the 2027 contest, before the meeting took place. It said there was insufficient support among broadcasters to participate, and described the decision as a pause rather than a permanent withdrawal. The contest will still be shown in the Netherlands by public broadcaster NOS.

The NPO said it would remain in talks with the European Broadcasting Union about the contest’s future. One of the letter’s organisers, journalist Mandy Emadi, had welcomed the withdrawal decision but still wanted to meet the NPO, she told EenVandaag.

At that meeting, the delegates also called for an ethical framework with clear limits for assessing collaborations. According to the organisers’ account, the NPO recognised the need for such a discussion and said it would take it into consideration as it considers the future of the broadcasting system.