Exactly 40 years ago, the Netherlands earned their last Eurovision victory in Stockholm, Sweden. And where is the contest off to in 2016? Stockholm! That has to be a good omen for the Dutch. Rumour has it the country will reveal its artist next month. But who should they send? Here are ten acts to consider.

Alain Clark

Alain Clark is a well known Dutch singer and producer. In 2007 and 2008 he scaled to the top of the charts with “This Ain’t Gonna Work” and “Father & Friend”. He also topped the Eurovision rumour mill prior to Vienna, but instead AvroTros opted for Trijntje Oosterhuis. Why? Whyayayay?

Caro Emerald

Ladies and gentlemen, we present Queen Caro Emerald. Everything she touches turns to gold… or at least platinum, like her first album – six times! The record ultimately achieved a mind blowing 30 straight weeks at number one. “A Night Like This” and “Stuck” are probably her catchiest and best known songs. In an interview with RTL Late Night she was unsure about representing her country, but she’s yet to be asked. Come on AvroTros, go ask her. Because more of the same would be loved by the Eurovision crowd!

Dotan

Doton is one of the Netherlands’ biggest artists right now. His single “Home” reached number two in the charts, and his latest release, “Hungry”, was a massive hit too. Later this year he will sing in the Ziggo Dome, one of the Netherlands’ biggest concert halls – the show is completely sold out. That could be good practice for a certain song contest! And he’s already a pro at the media game. He’s always top of the annual rumour mill, maybe 2016 is the time he’ll hop off it onto the actual Eurovision stage.

Douwe Bob

Last year Douwe Bob told RTL Late Night viewers that he has no great love for Eurovision. However, 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. He’s also recorded a duet with the lady who started the Dutch renaissance. She managed to convince Trijntje in 2015, maybe she’d do the same with Douwe? Except with a better end result, obviously.

Eva Simons

At the time of writing, Eva Simons is spending a 20th week in the Dutch charts with “Policeman”. The R&B diva is a well-established name in the Netherlands, beginning her career with Raffish. Since leaving the group, she’s worked with Afrojack and most famously, will.i.am. Eva certainly has an amazing voice. Could she embark on yet another collaboration and bring the Netherlands to its third grand final appearance in four years? Hell yeah!

Glennis Grace / Ladies of Soul

What is a Eurovision wishlist without a returning artist? Actually, there could be three if AvroTros pays heed to the Dutch entrant from 2005, Glennis Grace. She’s publicly expressed an interest to return to Eurovision with her Ladies of Soul band mates. The other supergroup members are Berget Lewis, Candy Dulferis, and Eurovision veterans Edsilia Rombley and Trijntje Oosterhuis. In just under two years, they’ve become a dominant force on the Dutch music scene. They easily sell-out massive arena shows, while “I’ll Carry You” is their biggest hit to date. These ladies are the real deal!

Ilse DeLange / The Common Linnets

It would be rude to exclude the current darlings of the Netherlands. Even though Ilse and her Common Linnets chums spend most of their time touring, Dutch Eurovision fans will never forget their near victory in 2014. Since Copenhagen, the band recorded a load of new songs, won a slew of awards, and featured on the soundtrack for the American tv show Wayward Pines. It’s highly unlikely that Ilse would return to the contest so soon, but we’re reaching for the stars.

Kensington

Kensington finished a very respectable tenth in the inaugural wiwivision, but how would they do at the actual Eurovision? The band has a soft-rock sound, which tends to do well at the song contest – think Softengine in 2014 and maNga in 2010. They’ve released a slew of hits over the past year or so, including “Riddles” and the chart smash “WAR”.

Natalie La Rose

This time last year, Natalie La Rose was a complete unknown. But since then, she’s become the R&B singer of the moment. Her global hit, “Sombody”, has propelled her career into the stratosphere. Since it’s February release, the Whitney Houston sampling track has amassed almost 90 million YouTube views. Could AvroTros convince the superstar to fly the Dutch flag in Stockholm next year?

O’g3ne

Junior Eurovision fans should recognise these three ladies. Back in 2007 they represented The Netherlands as Lisa, Amy and Shelley. Of course, little girls grow up. Seven years later, the trio re-branded as O’g3ne, and went on to win The Voice of Holland. The sisters have publicly expressed a desire to go to Eurovision, stating that it’s on their bucket list. They need to use their “Wings to Fly” to Stockholm. Pronto!

READ MORE OF OUR LISTS HERE

22 Comments
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CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
8 years ago

Kensington, before anyone else. Period. “War”, “Streets”, “Riddles”; pick one, and the Dutch would have been guaranteed to score at least 200, maybe even more. Here’s a rock band that sounds like a winner to me.

João
João
8 years ago

If The Netherlands pick Dotan we might get ready for ESC 2017 in Amsterdam. This guy is great XD

Victor
Victor
8 years ago

What about Kim Lian with a pop song like Break the Ice!!!?

John Christian
John Christian
8 years ago

It has to be OG3NE, Natalie La Rose, or Ladies of Soul. They want the grand final appearance very badly.

Charles
Charles
8 years ago

… and as expected …I see no one expressing a word about Glennis Grace …

Lottee
Lottee
8 years ago

Eva Simons, Nathalie La Rose and Kensington would be awesome but I don’t think they would do it. O’G3NE is great and I think that Avrotros is gonna choose them because they say in like all their interviews that they wanna go to ESC so bad and they were very popular at TVOH. But I think they better wait 2 or 3 years, I think they will be even better than. I would be ok with Dotan but Caro Emerald wouldn’t do that well, look at UK this year. Alain Clark is the best option in this list: he’s a… Read more »

WillFran
WillFran
8 years ago

These all look like great choices, although I think Caro is too famous/doesn’t need to. She could be an interval act with the Metropole Orchestra is NL ever win!
Glennis had a very ordinary song back in 2005 but I’ve heard more recent performances of hers and she blew me away!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIbRihQ32W8

Trinjie is fantastic but it’s a shame she had such a dull song. She didn’t look happy singing it! I’d love to see her try again (with the LoS, but with a great song of course.)

Mike
Mike
8 years ago

I really love to see that there are so much good people to represent The Netherlands in Eurovision. I chose for these ten because they are my own faves and people who I expect to have a chance of waving the Dutch flag in Stockholm but of course people like Armin van Buuren, Esmee Denters, Within Temptation, Mr Probz and Sharon Doorson would be great choices too!

Deniz
Deniz
8 years ago

Sharon Doorson or Og3ne should go, but Eva Simons and Dotan would be perfect too.

bastian
bastian
8 years ago

Og3ne has to goooooo, love their voices, they only need 1 good song and they’ll win 😀 others i like: dotan, ilse ofcourse, caro emerald

Joyce
Joyce
8 years ago

I want DOTAN for eurovision 2016, love his music very much, it’s timeless!

deli
deli
8 years ago

Hope you will do the same type article for Poland 🙂

#Dutchi
#Dutchi
8 years ago

You also missed Sharon Doorson. She is brilliant singer and got killer songs like “Louder”.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
8 years ago

I am dutch and i think our country is very talented. Trijntje Oosterhuis is talented to, butt we have very famous singers.

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

Any young artists would do well. Trijntje wasn’t the right artist for Eurovision and her stage performance was the worst. Caro Emerald is obviously the best choice by far but i believe she is not interested because she enjoys success outside Netherlands. The Dutch broadcaster should try to persuade her though. Douwe Bob is another good choice too. “She managed to convince Trijntje in 2015, maybe she’d do the same with Douwe? Except with a better end result, obviously.” —> False. Anouk did NOT convince Trijntje for Eurovision. Trijntje was the one who wanted to do Eurovision and Anouk told… Read more »

jr esc nl
jr esc nl
8 years ago

i also would like the voice of holland 2011 winner iris kroes to represent us. she lives in the town next to me and she performed with gianluca bezzina once 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARh2mtIv7hc

jr esc nl
jr esc nl
8 years ago

please let dotan or kensington represent us in 2016! i think alain clark would end up as trijntje oosterhuis.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
8 years ago

The only Dutch artist I really want to do Eurovision is Anneke Van Giersbergen. I definitely think she could bring some respectability back after this year’s entry.

#MarioVision ~ 1st April 2001
#MarioVision ~ 1st April 2001
8 years ago

TIESTO = The #1 GreAtY DJ of all times! <3

Armin Van Buuren is GreAtY DJ as well & i like his music too though..

Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation <3
She has GreAtY voice <3 Would be amazing if she represents Holland in our Vision <3

Timselvision
Timselvision
8 years ago

I´m Dutch and I agree with this list, although I would prefer Within Temptation, Armin van Buuren and Mr. Probz above Douwe Bob, Natalie and Glennis Grace.

#MarioVision
#MarioVision
8 years ago

Well i would like Ilse DeLange to represent Netherland in our Vision <3
Or Esmee Denters as she is dutch..

MirkoJoshua
MirkoJoshua
8 years ago

You missed Armin Van Buuren. He would never participate, but if he does, The Netherlands win for sure