Only yesterday, Jan Smit, the Dutch Eurovision commentator, told Radio 10 that the Netherlands’ 2016 act has yet to be decided and that there won’t be any announcement until January. What a difference a day makes. Today, Jan appeared on De Wereld Drait Door to reveal that Douwe Bob will represent the country in Stockholm.
Douwe’s name has been floating round the Euro-sphere for the past few days, so the news doesn’t come as a major shock. After an apparent leak, AVROTROS had a secret meeting with Bob, and it was decided that they would confirm the rumours.
Het hoge woord is eruit! @douwe_bob gaat NL vertegenwoordigen op het #ESF16 in Zweden! Info: http://t.co/KGdISTVpue pic.twitter.com/7C9ty7kV8j
— Songfestival (@songfestival) September 22, 2015
The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS have now chosen their representative internally for four years in a row. Leaving the public without any say in the matter. At this stage it is unclear what Douwe will sing, although it will be an “uptempo song”, which is set to be unveiled in February.
Who is Douwe Bob?
Douwe Bob, is a 22-year-old known for his country-folk sound. Many of you will remember DB for “Hold Me” — his duet with Anouk. (At the very least you should remember the photo Anouk posted of him in the bathtub). 
Earlier this year he topped the charts with his album “Pass it on”. Interestingly, last year Douwe Bob told RTL Late Night viewers that he has no great love for Eurovision…though he didn’t go so far as to definitively rule out entering. One thing is for sure: the country/folk stylings could do very well at the contest, just like we saw in 2013 and 2014. Douwe Bob’s sound is comparable to that of the Common Linnets, suggesting AVROTROS loves its banjos and fiddles. Since the Dutch upped their game in 2013, they’ve sent big stars. Douwe Bob lacks their celebrity wattage, but certainly has a strong voice and distinct sound.
Are you happy that Douwe Bob will be in Stockholm? Or would you rather see someone else represent The Netherlands? Tell us in the comments!
I love Dutch R&B music so I was hoping the Netherlands would select Berget Lewis this year. She has an amazing voice and her debut album Aviator was fire. What would be really impressive would be if the Netherlands would select the super group Ladies of Soul comprised of Berget Lewis, saxophonist Candy Dulfer, and past Eurovision contestants Trientje Oosterhuis, Glennis Grace, and Edsilia Rombley. I’m not a big fan of country music so I don’t know if I’ll like Douwe Bob, but I actually liked Calm after the st
Who says it’s going to be country? His last album wasn’t als country or folk. I’ll bet we’re all gonna br surprised. A very good choice for The Netherlands!
Urghhhhh…..
Please no more country Music I couldn’t stand Calm after the storm
Oh well…
@Mitchelvaneijk I think many people are tired of it. Lots of people don’t like that they use a Swedish written song every year, but regardless of that, the results have been diminishing rapidly. Start A Fire got their worst ever result, and altho Hour Of The Wolf did technically place higher in the final, it was only saved by the jury, the televote would not have even qualified it and would have left them in the semi for the first time. I think Azerbaijan need to find another source for their song in 2016. I hope Douwie Bob submits his… Read more »
Why can’t we have Dutch singers singing in Dutch ?
THANK LORD … MUSIC TO START OFF THIS WHOLE THING !!!! 🙂
Dying to see many here bored to death LOOL
My pick was Eva Simons , but as long as Ned feels comfortable with it it’s okay
@john christian
O’G3NE need a decent songwriter and producer, their father insists on writing their songs but so far all their singles have been flops. At least Douwe Bob has had a hit album, not so much a hit single. What he has to do with Gerard Joling, other than that they’re both male and they both sing for a living, is beyond me.
Natalie La Rose can’t sing without autotune, that’s a problem.
NO! NO! NO!
Horrible choice! OG3’NE or Natalie la Rose would have been better! But with Douwe Bob for Netherlands, it’s Gerard Joling all over again! BIG FAILURE!
Good choice for the Netherlands
Hope that he will bring a song like this one:
Douwe Bob – Fine Line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEiJd8BMbL8
Would this mean that the Netherlands is back in the game – back to grand finals? Let’s just hope that his song won’t be too flat.
Slowly but surely The Netherlands will become the Greece/Turkey of this decade, I want them in the top 5 every year !!!!!! #TeamUnderdog
Douwe Bob said in the talkshow RTL Late Night last year that he is not a Eurovision follower/fan, but nevertheless I am happy with Douwe Bob as ‘our’ artist for Eurovision. I hope the team around him will take its job extremely serious. Douwe Bob is a typical singer-songwriter and needs to adapt to the fact that it is just three minutes and that these three minutes need to come across on tv in all Europe and the rest of the world. I think Trijntje, even though she was an extremely experienced artist before Eurovision, didn’t adapt that well to… Read more »
@Robyn: From what I remember, Conchita was hardly on anyone’s short list for Austria at this site; while Douwe Bob was mentioned quite a few times (maybe once or twice last year) before the rumors started to surface.
Good choice, as long as they leave Anouk behind! We need a different sound from The Netherlands now. Good luck!! 🙂
Douwe Bob is not some kind of Anouk protege, he’d never even met her until she called him to do a song together. If anything, he’s closer to Ilse DeLange, both musically and personally. The song is already finished, he wrote it himself. The committee says they were ‘blown away’ by it, but TBH they also said that about Trijntje’s entry last year. They didn’t mean to release the name until November, but since it already leaked they thought, what’s the point. And if it invites more singer/songwriters to come over, rather than just singing/dancing puppets, the more the merrier,… Read more »
I dont think anything could ever top the Common Linnets, so I wont compare him to them. I like him better than Trintje for sure, and depending on his song I might end up liking him a little bit more or about the same as Anouk. But I’m kinda afraid people will get tired of the Netherlands sending a soft song style for the 5th year in a row…hope it works out for them tho! Excited to hear what his song will be 🙂
It’s 1988 Gerard Joling all over again! OG3NE or Natalie la Rose would be a better option!
@Jonas: If the song is uptempo, what are the chances that Anouk WILL be the songwriter? If I must say, I’d rather they enter the contest as a duet, given how good “Hold Me” sounds. Alas, I wanted Kensington to be the Dutch entry for the next ESC. Nevertheless, a good choice they made. But I must say, whether it was Douwe Bob, or Kensington, or Dotan, or whoever, I think it was a bad idea to reveal their entry THIS early, 3½ months before many of the national selections start flooding in, and 8 months before the contest itself.… Read more »
The song will make all the difference. Star quality and talent will count for nothing without the right song – just ask Trijntje! She could have gone so far with a good song. Don’t let Anouk write the song this time, please – she seems to save the best for herself.
Better vocalist than this year but definitely needs the right song. He runs a very high chance of being very boring.
Already an improvement on Littletrain Oysterhouse!
Seems like the Netherlands made a good pick. I hope he has the song writing of Anouk and the performance of the Common Linnets (and dont get the same injustice as Trijntje!)
excited this means selection season is almost upon us, even if its just a taste
I have to say I was hoping for Dotan to go to Stockholm, but Douwe Bob is a really strong second choise. And he is a young guy who has a clue and he already has a song and an idea for Stockholm ready so I think if he keeps being himself he can do good! But let’s wait for the song first hahah!
If he gets a great song he will be the one to beat. What a talent!
Looks like we are the first to present our singer. I wonder what he will come up with. I hear his name everywhere but I didn’t even knew one song of him, I hope it will at least have a rhythm and kind of simalair to home from Dotan.
Another singer with an Anouk connection. Guess she fell in love with Eurovision and keeps pushing her friends.
Check this out…raw, unplugged and revealing. Big like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3bij3w2B6k
Wow, this fellow has a great voice. Read that his song is uptempo, so hopefully it’s a gooood one. I’m happy!
He is cute and talented.
The question is what kind of song he will choose for Eurovision. I want the Dutch broadscaster to do a selection show for the ESC entry.
I bet Anouk helped him with his decision on ESC
It’s only September, and they’ve decided on an artist already?
Either they’re really rushing themselves or are being remarkably efficient
I hope the Dutch know what they’re doing
Dayum! I wanted dotan xD but i guess i should wait for the song before i judge him. He’s kinda good
As long as he has good song that is all that matters! But he is HOT for sure????
@Mario They only decided on this yesterday. They said they were so impressed with his song, that they then made a definitive choice.
I’m really curious about the song though, it’s gonna be a long wait till february…
I wouldn’t be surprised if the actual song turns out to be a slow ballad, as the remark about sending an uptempo song came straight after Douwe Bob complimented Jan Smit for his ability to lie 😉
And actually I hope it will be a ballad, because his ballads are stronger than his faster songs, which are maybe a bit too bluegrass for Eurovision.
Douwe Bob is awesome. Loved him from the moment i discovered a song he sang while participating in ‘The beste singer-songerwriter van Nederland,’ have been listening to his music occasionally ever since. Hopefully he’ll come up with a good song. For now, I’ll leave you with this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0K8_uoNCI4
Good luck
Yess! I’m very happy 🙂
meh!
Eurovision 2016… has begun 😉
russia is comfirmed with tolmachevys as they sing elvis inspired song “Letix” in stockholm with sporticus, stephanie, bean (super sproutlet) and 5h as backing vocals with real roosters on stage! english version is also released as shimmer, will not be performed (as the russian version will be performed instead!)
I prefer not to say anything. Trijntje had a marvellous voice, but the song was a bit cheap… so, let’s see what he’s bringing to Stockholm
So soon?! Ok! Yay! I like this guy.