Netherlands Eurovision Return: Ending Israel Boycott in 2027

The Netherlands is poised to reverse its boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest and return to the competition in 2027, just one year after sitting out in protest of Israel's participation. According to reports in Dutch media, broadcaster AVROTROS is preparing to announce the country's comeback within weeks, and may have already selected its representative for the contest.

The development marks a significant policy shift for the Dutch broadcaster, which was among the most prominent networks to withdraw from Eurovision 2026. AVROTROS had explicitly linked its decision to skip the contest to Israel's continued participation, making the Netherlands one of the few countries to boycott on those grounds. When Israel remained in the competition, the Dutch stayed out.

Now, after just a single year's absence, the Netherlands appears ready to rejoin Europe's premier song competition.

Reports of the Dutch return emerged on the television program "De Oranjezomer," where media correspondent Jordi Versteegden cited sources familiar with the matter. According to Versteegden, AVROTROS will formally announce its Eurovision comeback within approximately two weeks.

"We're simply going. I've heard from sources in the know that AVROTROS will announce in two weeks that we're returning to the contest," Versteegden said on the program.

The broadcaster has not yet issued an official statement, so the information remains unconfirmed. However, if accurate, it would mean the Netherlands is ending its Israel-related boycott after only one edition of the contest.

The same Dutch media report suggests that AVROTROS has already chosen singer Davina Michelle, 30, to represent the country at Eurovision 2027.

Michelle is well-known in the Netherlands and familiar to Eurovision fans, she performed "The Power of Water" during the interval act of the first semi-final when the contest was held in Rotterdam in 2021. Her name has been floated as a potential Dutch representative for years, and she has recently been asked about the possibility. If confirmed, her selection would signal that preparations for the Netherlands' return are already well underway.