Only a few days after Duncan Laurence’s win at Eurovision 2019 with “Arcade”, and the Netherlands is already getting ready to host the world’s biggest live music event. For the first time since 1980, the Dutchies will be hosting Eurovision — and a growing list of cities want toe opportunity to put it on.
The Netherlands — a country of 200 by 300 kilometres — could host the contest anywhere geographically. It’s compact enough that guests can reach any Dutch host city from one of the country’s main airports, and there is no shortage of hotels to welcome guests. So far six cities / regions have expressed interest: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Arnhem, Leeuwarden/the province of Fryslân and Maastricht. Meanwhile, the country’s fifth largest city Groningen has said it will pass on bidding.
Where will Eurovision 2020 be held?
The city of Rotterdam — home to the multi-purpose venue Ahoy — was among the first locations to show interest. Its grand venue previously hosted Junior Eurovision 2007.
The mayor of the Netherlands’ capital city Amsterdam has previously spoken about hosting the event. The owners of the congress centre RAI (which hosted Eurovision 1970) and pop venue Ziggo Dome are both dreaming about Eurovision in their venue as well. And the people of Amsterdam love Eurovision, as the private water company of the city showed peaks in water use – for toilet breaks – just before and after the final vote.
A large number of provincial capitals outside of Holland have also been enthusiastic about bringing the event to their city or region.
This includes Maastricht, which is located in the southern most tip of the country. Maastricht has been particularly vocal about hosting and has put its congress centre MECC forward, stating that the so-called bidbook is ready.
Another strong player in the bidding phase will be the Netherlands’ fourth city, Utrecht, in the heart of the country. The city is almost as close to Schiphol Airport as Amsterdam, and is home to Jaarbeurs, the largest congress hall in the country.
Jaarbeurs laat mogelijkheden zien voor de organisatie van het Eurovisie Songfestival 2020. Vandaag in gesprek met RTV Utrecht. #ESF2020 pic.twitter.com/LsZmXLdDFC
— Jaarbeurs (@jaarbeurs) May 20, 2019
Another contender? The provincial city of Arnhem, which is just a half an hour train ride from Utrecht. It also has a direct connection to Eurovision 2011 host city Düsseldorf. its football stadium Gelredome has a roof and it’s one of the biggest venues in the entire country. Football club Vitesse would have to go without its stadium for a few weeks…
The province of Fryslân in the north of the country also wants to host the event. The mayor of its capital Leeuwarden has said they are eager, but no venue has been chosen. Alternatively, the Frisians are thinking of the speed skating hall Thialf in Heerenveen, a town with thirty thousand inhabitants, which could be the new Millstreet according to them.
Onder aanvoering van songfestival-liefhebber ?@cdkfryslan? gaat Leeuwarden een serieuze lobby starten om #ESF20 binnen te halen. Zelfs uitwijken naar ?@Thialf? zou optie kunnen zijn. Goed om je ambitie te tonen. pic.twitter.com/AL0HwHDD4T
— Jaap Stalenburg (@JaapStalenburg) May 20, 2019
Furthermore, a group of local political parties is writing a letter to the Provincial Council of Noord-Brabant to facilitate Eurovision somewhere in their province. Besides that, the owner of the IJsselhallen in Zwolle has also shown interest in bringing the event to Overijssel.
We previously spoke about The Hague‘s intentions to host, but since then the city has not come forward with a bid or an official expression of interest.
One big city has already declared that they are not interested — the university town Groningen. The local city council has concluded that the city has different priorities and lacks sufficient funding to organise the event.
Where do you want Eurovision 2020 to be held? Let us know in the comments below!
Oh Renske, Dear, the Netherlands is 200 * 400 km. Ignore that. Ignore also the mental madness in the country and face the facts. In May 2020 there are many, many big events in the Netherlands. Formula One in Zandvoort aan Zee, Kings Night&Day in Amsterdam-Utrecht-TheHague, the end of the football season and somewhere in between the ESC. And yes, this listing is far from complete. As you might know, the Dutch government favours a zero risk policy for major, public events. This means that big events are spread over the country. The 2016 Final of the womens Football-EC was… Read more »
Why not a German delegation in Rotterdam in May? What a nonsense.
Israel welcomed a German delegation in May, so grow up the Netherlands!
Take a look at the history of the city…
A zero risk policy means: don’t gave memorial hooligans any chance. Rotterdam has a higher risk on this as Maastricht, so if there is a choice, Maastricht will be choosen, because this city can welcome anyone without incidents.
Maastricht is a good choice, but I don’t believe there will be any Rotterdam people causing problems for the German delegation. Com’on. What a strange thinking.
x
I am pretty sure they will end up selecting Rotterdam, because: 1) Ahoy is probably the country’s most suitable venue to host an event like this. 2) The Dutch tourist board has stopped promoting Amsterdam to reduce overcrowding. Hosting Eurovision would go against Amsterdam’s policy to deter tourists from visiting the city. 3) Amsterdam and Rotterdam are roughly the same size (there are 2.7 million people within a 25km radius from Rotterdam). Both cities are comparable in terms of infrastructure/accommodation. 4) Rotterdam is a trendy, vibrant, innovative and multi-cultural city with cutting-edge modern architecture, and still relatively undiscovered by most… Read more »
ARUBA 2020 – Opening act: Flamingos ft Eleni Foureira and her pink feather coat!!!
Oranjestad, Aruba 2020! For all of those who will miss the sun in Tel Aviv/Lisbon
Dave Benton’s homeland. With the Dutch connection, he ought to be involved in some way in 2020.
Among all the cities named Rotterdam is more qualified than any other cities, is more morden and financially stable, moreover is the most steadily growing city in Europe intends of infrastructure and economy. The city have have all the qualifications to do eny Events.
I’m a Welsh guy living in NL and I think it will almost definitely go to Rotterdam. There is a tourist crisis in Amsterdam second only to Venice, and the place doesn’t feel Dutch at all anymore. I don’t think the infrastructure there could cope.
Rotterdam is edgy and is seen as the country’s arty, creative city. Ahoy arena already hosted JESC in 2007 so for me, this is the ideal opportunity.
I whish the Netherlands the best of luck for organising ESC 2020 and that you are blessed with positive vibes by everyone, unlike what happened with last three organisers.
unlike what happened with last three organisers.
?
I reaaaally want Carice van Houten and Michiel Huisman as hosts!! Since Euron Greyjoy presented for Denmark in 2013, it’s only fair that Melisandre and Daario Naharis get a go at it. I’d also settle for Doutzen Kroes.
Amsterdam & Rotterdam have the best ring to it.
You think they’d give the gig to one of the Eurovision in Concert people like Cornald Maas? Also, for once, we won’t have to worry about English skills, as the Netherlands has the highest quantity of fluent English speakers for a non-native-speaking country (although I’ll say Israel’s hosts were actually pretty good this year).
I think we shouldn’t (and won’t) risk it to hold it in a small city like Maastricht or Arnhem because God knows how long we will have to wait for our next win. I’m saying Ahoy or the Ziggo Dome- two very fit venues in two great cities. I want at least 15.000 tickets- because the prices will be lower and yall know im going ofc XD.
I hope a big venue Will be chosen so 20-25,000 people can join. I have lots of Dutch friends who wanna experience the event live, at affordable prices..100-150€ instead of the €300-600 in Tel-Aviv…let lots of fans come to NL and celebrate ESC 2020 with guest performance by Abba? 😉
I’m already predicting that it will be in Amsterdam. Most obvious host city choice.
On another topic, did anyone watch Last Week Tonight? John Oliver did a segment an Hatari, and its obviously hilarious. Funny seeing how Americans react to them.
It won’t be in Amsterdam. They have too many tourists already, I don’t think they would know what to do with thousands more.
Oh for god’s sake not this again. Just put it in Amsterdam. No more trying to be quirky by sticking the world’s biggest non sporting event in a shoe box in one of your minor cities. Has no one learnt anything from Tel Aviv?
While there were problems with Tel Aviv calling it a minor city is hardly true. It’s literally bigger than Jerusalem
If they had hosted it in Jerusalem, it would’ve been the smallest pool of competing countries since 2003…hosting it there would have invited a boycott of major proportions.
Pretty sure it wouldn’t. Iceland was the only country which was thinking about a boycott. Look at jerusalem 1998
Iceland was the only one. All other 40 countries would have come to Jerusalem.
Well Aruzo there is the problem of the F1 Grand Prix next year in Amsterdam/Zandvoort on May 14. That will be a difficult clash.
Azaad, Iceland was the only country, all other 40 countries would have come also to Jerusalem.
For the Netherlands, Maastricht would be nice.
Don’t assume Amsterdam has the biggest venues, it doesn’t. Besides, Amsterdam doesn’t even want the ESC because it is already overcrowded. Maastricht or Rotterdam would be very capable of organising it.
Maastricht is the city where the EU Treaties were signed, what better place is there than this truly European city? And with the MECC it has the perfect venue! (Also how cool would it be to have Eurovision in the same place where I write my exams for uni lol)
Come on peeps, especially dutchies and belgians, we all know it’s gonna be in the Efteling
Efteling, LOL
Or Madurodam
LOL
I don’t believe that Ahoy Rotterdam will host it next year due to the fact that the venue is currently building a new conference building by the entrance and will be completed in late 2020. You can read all about it: https://rotterdammakeithappen.nl/en/showcases/new-front-door-for-rotterdam-ahoy/
#AMSTERDAM 2020, My Hometown <3
ROTTERDAM 2020 PERIOD. I can literally go by bike to the venue lmfao??
As a Dutchie, I think the best place would be Amsterdam.
I mean, it’s our capital and most known place. It also has the best (and biggest) venues for big events and alot of hotels near. So yeah, why not.
Yes, exactly what I was thinking!
Pffff get your facts straight. Amsterdam does not have the biggest venues and it can’t handle any more tourists. It doesn’t even want the bid.
Has nobody considered Hilversum? I’m saying this because every year during the voting, the Dutch spokesperson say “This is Hilversum calling”. What’s the deal with Hilversum exactly?
Hilversum won’t come forward with a bid; they say they don’t have locations which are big enough for Eurovision. But they do wish to share their technical knowledge: https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/246176/geen-songfestival-in-hilversum-gemeente-ziet-wel-rol-voor-hilversumse-techniek
The voting from Netherlands is given from Hilversum as it’s the headquarters of a lot of Dutch media including some of the public broadcasters. For example the public news braodcaster NOS and AVROTROS, the broadcaster that organizes the Dutch delegation to the contest both have their studios and HQs in Hilversum.
In Hilversum we do have “Media-park” where most of our tv shows are filmed and broadcasters are located. Hilversum itself is a quite big city in The Netherlands, but it’s nothing like the other cities. Hilversum is also a part of “Het Gooi” which are a couple of Dutch Gemeentes where alot of rich Dutchies live.
I think … it´s will be Amsterdam – Ziggo Dome – 1st Semi on 12th May 2020, 2nd Semi on 14th 2020 and Grand Final on 16th May 2020. The Saturday 23rd May 2020 is for German Football Cup brodcast by DasErste(ARD) and Saturday 30th May 2020 is for UEFA Champions League Final.
i hope it’s not amsterdam bc it’s already overcrowded enough to the point the dutch tourism board doesn’t even promote it anymore. the netherlands issa small country, any other city will be fine
But they simply wouldn’t put Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam if they didn’t want anymore tourist or?
are u comparing a minor gig that brings less than a thousand ppl to city to the entire eurovision lmao
I think Amsterdam will be great location for Eurovision 2020
CURAÇAO
Eurovision on a beach
Plus they have a venue with a capacity of 15000. CURAÇAO would be an ideal location in every possible way.
Please let it be Maastricht! Just 20 minutes from Liège (Belgium) where I live!!!
I don’t know if there would be any organisational problems with that, but would it be a crazy idea to stage the semi finals in The Hague and the final in Rotterdam???
The Netherlands has some beautiful modern and historic cities, but I can’t help but think that like with Tel Aviv this year, the vibe in Amsterdam is better suited to Eurovision and Euro fans.
So I’m going to say that I really hope it will be Amsterdam. Zyggo Dome would be an ideal venue. Dam Square or Museum Square could host Euro Parties, red carpet could be done at the Rembrandt Museum
“It could be Rotterdam or anywhere…”
Whatever city they choose, at least Eurovision will be back in a peaceful country. I’m sorry but when it happens in troubled countries (and we’ve seen that in 2017 and 2019), there are always a ton of issues and Eurovision is heavily used for propaganda. At least this doesn’t happen in Sweden, Austria, Portugal or the Netherlands.
what propaganda? Troubled? Speak to people who went…
What propaganda? I didn’t see any propaganda this year. Do you have an example?
Tonight at Pauw (a late night talkshow) the majors of Arnhem and Maastricht will discuss why they believe they should host the Eurovision Song Contest. Curious what they will say
Let it be Rotterdam, but I want the Rotterdam Terror Corps as opening act and a real hakken dance
If there will be “hakken” at ESC i will be extremely ashamed XD.
I’m a Brit who used to live in the Hague, and whilst I’m very fond of the town, it doesn’t have a suitable venue (the football team would want thier stadium and a roof would be too costly). I’d be excited for any of these choices but Amsterdam and Rotterdam are the only two realistic options, and I’d be happy with both. But I may be nice to give Rotterdam the chance and exposure- they handled the MTV Europe awards in recent years too. Utrech would be cool, I’ve been to that trade hall years ago and didn’t know it… Read more »
The once ‘ugly’ mall in Utrecht was completely taken town and rebuilt. Even bigger and definitely not ugly anymore, but beautiful and probably most modern mall in Europe since it just opened 😉
The train station can definitely handle all tourists.. I’m only doubting Jaarbeurs as the venue, its maybe not the best opion we have in NL.
Ah.
I haven’t been there for many years, I got lost in their once and couldn’t stand it, but I have since googled it and it looks better now.
Have any international stars performed there?
I did a huge science fiction Convention in Utrecht a few years ago It was amazing. Lovely city.
We were in the hotel lift with some of the Dutch delegation after the final and they really wanted Rotterdam…
That really shows how eager were the Dutch to finally take the trophy home. I’m so excited, I believe the show will be great regardless of where the host arena will be located. I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be Amsterdam, but personally I would pick Rotterdam, it seems to have a pretty cool vibe and some exposure for not a very well-known city wouldn’t hurt, plus it’s always interesting to see Eurovision being organised outside of country’s capital.
Like if the UK ever win again (lol My country) Id love Cardiff to have it.
Amsterdam has actually stated they really don’t want anymore tourists to visit their city. They even went as far as demolishing a large tourist hotspot ( i<3 amsterdam sign), and shops that sell items or food to tourists are forcefully shut down by the municipality. This might affect their bidding campaign.
Amsterdam is my favourite, but I would be good with Rotterdam or The Hague tooo
My predictions are they might be going for RAI or Ahoy since they have past experiences there, or Ziggo because it’s brand new.
On a side note, seems we want to let Tel Aviv 2019 to pass by so fastly, aren’t we all?
why? because Tel Aviv was so good?
I wish it was.
I would love to see Amsterdam or Rotterdam, since it’s a one in a lifetime (maybe not) chance to show an amazing show, and the location is also important. Amsterdam because it is extremely fitting for the fan community for obvious reasons. And Rotterdam because it is an extremely booming city. Many people only heard it by name, but the city has developed incredibly the last decades. A city which city center was wiped out completely during WOII, is now the place to be for modern architecture, landmarks and skyscrapers. It would be amazing and give a lot exposure for… Read more »
What are these obvious reasons to host in Amsterdam? I don’t understand.
Maastricht would be an amazing choice ! The venue is 1 min walk from my workplace!
The Netherlands is a small enough country and easy enough to get around in that even after they pick a host city, the other remaining cities could still become part of the contest in some other way.
Even though I didn’t care for the entry that much, I gotta admit that the Netherlands seems like a very good country to host in. I can imagine the postcards looking great next year too.
I’m hoping for either Amsterdam or Rotterdam but that’s mostly just because those are the two cities I’ve already visited so I’m biased.
I am so rooting for Rotterdam. Ahoy is almost as big as Ziggo Dome, it’s less crowded than Amsterdam, and Amsterdam is very close anyway.
Cmon Utrecht! ( totally nothing to do with the fact I’m doing my Erasmus exchange there next year…)
Wow! So much choices. I am liking ESC 2020 already. I know the the Ahoy in Rotterdam, which is an amazing venue. But it also would be awsome if the ESC would go back to same venue than in 1970…
As a lover of Amsterdam and constant fueler of overcrowdedness I am rooting for Rotterdam. Partly as it is such a vibrant and interesting place and partly I have always enjoyed the lesser known cities giving Eurovision a go.
I also think having read up on the different stadia in possible contention ahoy sounds like the most feasible for a contest like Eurovision in terms of the amount of things it is able to host and hold within an area. I also just love the name tbh.
Hopefully Ams. or Maastricht. Utrecht, Hague and Rotterdam aren’t very pretty.
Utrecht is beautiful! And central in the country as well, so people who visit Eurovision can go different ways to explore the country if they want to as well. I hope Amsterdam won’t host it. Amsterdam already always gets all the attention, and it isn’t really the Netherlands anymore. Because it is so focused on tourists. And they have their Eurovision in concert event. Agree on Rotterdam thought.
Rotterdam is a cool city! You’re not giving it enough credit. I can’t speak for Utrecht or Hague since I never visited those two, but I’m sure they aren’t bad either.
Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam is the best BUT i have a feeling they will go for Rotterdam’s Ahoy because they want to boost the tourism and exposure of the city. Amsterdam is overcrowded. The other nominations are as reliable as Eilat’s!
It would be nice to highlight another Dutch city other than Amsterdam. Eurovision does not have to be hosted in the capital.
I agree, but Amsterdam is not the capital. Den Haag is.
Um Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. The Hague is the political capital, but not the official Dutch capital 🙂
You can see by the way the Hague is built it has never been a city. NO cathedral, no defending walls (bolwerken) so it could never be the capital! Just the king lives there and the governement, and the embassies which makes it still indeed the policital capital. Amsterdam and Utrecht are certailny more beautiful. Utrecht is actually like Amsterdam but without the tourists! Quiet and very pretty! Maastricht is the most beuatiful city of the Netherlands but a bit out of the way. Just like Leeuwarden/Fryslân, which is the most beautiful province. Everything is there that you can find… Read more »
I agree. A lot to choose from. But I didn’t called it Holland.
Ok, indeed I just checked that Amsterdam is the official capital as stated in the Constitution. My bad.
Wtf…
I hope they choose Ahoy live 5mins away from Ahoy??
Maastricht (MECC) is a fantastic offer !!
Great, beautiful and very pleasant location
I think it will either be the Amsterdam RAI (hosted the ESC 1970, capacity for 13,000 people) , the Ziggo Dome( capacity for 17,000 people) or the Ahoy Rotterdam (hosted the JESC 2007, capacity for 16,000 people) I don’t think that the EBU and the Dutch broadcaster would prefer stadiums, because of constructions of roofs and the costs etc. But have a feeling that it’s going to be the Ziggo Dome. I really hope that the decision doesn’t take too long so that we can get at least some Eurovision News and thus our post Eurovision depression gets allayed a… Read more »
Since there are so many dutch cities interested in hosting i think the bidding phase might take a while. We’ll probably know the answer next august/september. Ticket prices will probably remain a mystery until at least next november/ december if we look at other years.
i”m not really sure but i feel like wherever they host it, they can afford to make the ticket prices a lot cheaper this time
Having experienced the Amsterdam pride, I’d love it to be there. However, I don’t doubt that any city that hosts it, will pull it off in terms of eurovillage, street parties etc. Living in London, I feel like is the best chance for me to actually go to the ESC next year in terms of logistics and also I expect the tickets will be significant more in number based on the venues mentioned here.
Ziggo dome in AMSTERDAM is perfect!
Please Austria send Sarah Koell next year to the esc
She really deserves it. She was robbed in 2018.
Rotterdam. A modern city for young people! Ahoy is a great venue!