AVROTROS, the Dutch broadcaster responsible for the Netherlands' Eurovision participation since 2014, has announced it will not compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 to be held in Burgas. This decision continues their absence after withdrawing from the 2026 contest.

The broadcaster stated that the Eurovision Song Contest can no longer be considered a neutral event while a participating country remains involved in a large-scale military conflict. AVROTROS cited ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that have deeply divided opinions around the contest.

In particular, AVROTROS highlighted the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and restrictions on press freedom as factors contributing to increasing divisions. The broadcaster has long called on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for clear and transparent rules regarding the participation of countries involved in military conflicts.

Despite recent changes announced by the EBU, AVROTROS says these do not restore sufficient confidence in Eurovision's impartiality and neutrality. It remains unclear to them how the EBU assesses whether a country's involvement in military conflict affects their eligibility to participate.

Director-General Taco Zimmerman expressed regret over having to step away from the contest, emphasizing the broadcaster's commitment to values such as trustworthiness, independence, and humanity. He stated, "The Eurovision Song Contest was originally created to bring people and countries together. It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the Contest, undermining its neutral character. The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division."

AVROTROS has transferred responsibility for Dutch Eurovision participation back to the national public broadcasting organisation NPO, which coordinates the country's public broadcasters. This transfer means that while AVROTROS will not participate, another broadcaster within the Dutch public broadcasting system could potentially take over the Netherlands' involvement in Eurovision 2027.

The withdrawal of AVROTROS follows similar decisions by Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain not to compete in Eurovision 2026 for related reasons. AVROTROS is the first among these to confirm its non-participation in the 2027 contest.

The Netherlands at Eurovision

The Netherlands is historically one of the most successful Eurovision countries, having participated 65 times since its debut in 1956, with five victories. However, recent years have seen challenges, including last-place finishes and non-participations.

AVROTROS's withdrawal from the contest highlights ongoing concerns about the impact of international conflicts on the Eurovision Song Contest’s traditionally unifying aim.