On Wednesday Dutch broadcaster NPO/AVROTROS/NOS confirmed the process by which they’ll select the Eurovision 2020 host city.

As the EBU explains, the process will take place in three phases between now and the end of July.

Step 1. During the first half of June, NPO/AVROTROS/NOS will send all interested cities and regions the document laying out the criteria they need to meet in order to host. This set of criteria will become the basis for each city’s bid.

Step 2. After they’ve studied the package, the candidates will have four weeks to complete “bid books”. These must be submitted in the first half of July.

Step 3. In the middle of July, officials overseeing the selection process can choose to visit cities and regions that are still in the race. They will also meet with the EBU after assessing each of the bids.

The specific criteria for Eurovision host cities does change from year to year. However, there are some broad strokes that remain the same. These include having sufficient hotels to accommodate visitors; venues able to hold a minimum threshold of spectators; the ability to set up a press centre near that venue; and access to the venue between March and May 2019.

Below you can see some of the criteria used for Eurovision 2019 in Israel.

  1. It must have a fully covered hall or arena that can accommodate between 8,000 and 12,000 spectators. Those numbers include both seats and standing positions.
  2. A press centre must be located nearby to accommodate around 1,500 journalists.
  3. Cities must have at least 3,000 hotel rooms.
  4. Host venue must be available between March and May 2019 for set-up and rehearsals.

Leeuwarden wants to host Eurovision 2020

As we previously reported, the mayor of Leeuwarden said that he was interested in hosting Eurovision 2020 in the days after Duncan Laurence’s Eurovision win. And on May 29 the city council finally gave its official blessing, with a majority of members voting in favour of the proposed bid. Apparently the city is already working on its bid book.

A number of you may be rolling your eyes and saying “as if.” But the Dutch Tourism Board has already come out publicly and said that it would like to use Eurovision 2020 to showcase lesser known parts of the country. Surely Leeuwarden — and the surrounding province of Fryslân — counts as lesser known to foreigners.

The city has proven that it can host major events. In 2018 it served as a European Capital of Culture alongside Valletta in Malta. The city is home to the largest cattle market in the Netherlands and one of its largest flower markets, which comes to life on Ascension Day. It’s known for its rural heritage, efforts at environmental sustainability and organic food, which supports a healthy array of cafes and restaurants. If you fly into Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, it takes about 2.5 hours to get to the city via a direct train. It costs 28 eros.

It’s not yet clear what venue they will propose to host the song contest.

Funnily enough, one of the themes of Leeuwarden’s Capital of Culture gig was “Dare to dream” — aligning it very closely with Tel Aviv and Eurovision 2019. Could it have been a harbinger of things to come? And one of its best known former residents is dancer-turned-spy Mata Hari, whose name sounds very similar to Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Eurovision 2006 act Hari Mata Hari. The connections don’t stop!

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Liam Lindsay
Liam Lindsay
4 years ago

I do agree with both sides, Amsterdam being the most logistical but, with the tourism board as William has said is advising to avoid the Dutch capital due to the fact that May is one of the busiest tourist months for the city, you also have the Dutch Grand Prix which runs from the first two weeks of May and I believe they also host a UEFA Champions League game as well so Amsterdam is going to be packed, the flights are going to be racked up to at least 65% above the usual fare and full of randy sweaty… Read more »

Leo
Leo
4 years ago

Leeuwarden seems alright!

stommie
stommie
4 years ago

Grass. The kind that is eaten by cows.
It is probably easier to find an organic restaurant in Amsterdam or Rotterdam by the way.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
4 years ago

Aye. Winds seem to be blowing their way. The entire Ahoy complex has enough room for the contest (the Arena itself), a green room (Club Ahoy) and and space for the press staging area (Theater Hal 1), with lots of room to spare.

Taker
Taker
4 years ago
Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago

I think it would be nice to have the contest back in Amsterdam, 50 years after it was last held there for the first and only time.

I know it probably won’t happen, though…

Vincent
Vincent
4 years ago

Leeuwarden (the province of Friesland in general) is one of my favourite Dutch cities due to it’s identity, distinctiveness and language. I just don’t think it would be suitable to host such a large worldwide “circus” event. The European Capital of Culture attracts a completely different target group than Eurovision. Leeuwarden has a quite calm, sober and well-behaved (? there is no good translation for braaf) character. Eurovision is the opposite, with wild urban party people who are full of energy, trying to find enjoyment during their entire 2week/1week/couple of days stay. I don’t know if Leeuwarden has enough facilities… Read more »

Piikatschoo
Piikatschoo
4 years ago

Give me Aruba or Curaçao or give me nothing.

Azaad Sadiq
Azaad Sadiq
4 years ago
Reply to  Piikatschoo

If they’re allowed to host Australia have to be allowed to host if they win

Piikatschoo
Piikatschoo
4 years ago
Reply to  Azaad Sadiq

No. Because Australia is technically a guest in ESC. They’re an associate member of EBU. They do not qualify to be full members. On the other hand, the Netherlands is a full member.

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  Piikatschoo

Both Aruba and Curaçao are independent countries in the kingdom (as is Sint Maarten). I don’t think their broadcasters are EBU members.

Piikatschoo
Piikatschoo
4 years ago
Reply to  stommie

OK. In Bonaire, then. Still one of the ABC islands on the Caribbean, but it’s still a public body of the European Netherlands.

untlert
untlert
4 years ago
Reply to  stommie

They are quasi-independent countries. Their military and international affairs are handled by Amsterdam. As the ESC is an international event its hosting in Aruba or Curaçao would lie within the jurisdiction of the Netherlands.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  Piikatschoo

True. Hopefully we can get EBU membership one day

James
James
4 years ago
Reply to  Piikatschoo

Sint-Maarten 2020

Fatima
Fatima
4 years ago
Reply to  Piikatschoo

The former already connected to Eurovision because of the great Dave Benton

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
4 years ago
Reply to  Piikatschoo

Absolutely not.

Both those places are in the Caribbean.

The time zone is close to neither Europe nor Australia’s time zones.

That’ll probably mess up the contestant’s schedules very badly.

It makes no sense to have Eurovision in a place where the timezone is that far off.

Volare
Volare
4 years ago
Reply to  Piikatschoo

They are not in the Nethelands propper, only Bonaire, Saba and Statia.

stommie
stommie
4 years ago

So Leeuwarden will apply even though they haven’t got the criteria yet.
There is no large international airport nearby.
No way there are enough hotel beds.
They could of course save themselves the embarrassment before coming up with those ridiculous bids. Just because you have a horse shed in your back garden, doesn’t mean that you can host the contest there.

Anke
Anke
4 years ago
Reply to  stommie

You sound like the typical randstad dutchie who thinks all frisians are farmers. We certainly have enough hotel capacity with hosting cultural capital of europe last year. Also groningen eelde airport and lelystad airport are near.

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  Anke

I was born in Limburg and now live in Zeelandic Flanders.
Schiphol to Leeuwarden is three hours by car. Good luck explaining that to delegations.
Groningen Eelde has flights to London, Copenhagen, Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Anke
Anke
4 years ago
Reply to  stommie

One hour and fourty minutes* unless you drive like my grandpa

frysk
frysk
4 years ago
Reply to  stommie

Three hours by car from Schiphol to Leeuwarden??? In what kind of car??? Amsterdam is about an hour by car, Schiphol a little bit further, max 1,5 hours unless you get caught up in a traffic jam which is very likely!

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  Anke

Booking dot com finds 12 hotels in Leeuwarden.

Anke
Anke
4 years ago
Reply to  stommie

Thats strange, I found 59 on booking dot com.

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  Anke

If you include hostels and bed and breakfasts and apartments, yes.

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  Anke

You think this hall is suitable for hosting eurovision?
comment image

Anke
Anke
4 years ago
Reply to  stommie

I understand leeuwarden’s bid has certain flaws. It’s more your denigrating attitude I have a problem with.

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  Anke

I have the same opinion about the bids from Twente Airport, Den Bosch, Breda and even Utrecht, Arnhem and Maastricht.
Those city councils have no idea what hosting eurovision means. They have no idea that tens of thousands of fans are visiting and that they expect to have a good time. They want nightlife and restaurants. Not a provincial town, no matter it’s undeniable charms.

Piikatschoo
Piikatschoo
4 years ago
Reply to  stommie

It looks bigger than the Tel Aviv venue, or about the same size.

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  Piikatschoo

EBU demands a hight of at least 15 meters. Which means that most of the bids are not eligible. Including the ones from Maastricht and Utrecht. It is of course great that all those city councils dare to dream. But most of them need a reality check and should at least read what EBU demands.

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  Piikatschoo

Kate Miller-Heidke would bump her head in that hall.

Anonymous ESC Fan
Anonymous ESC Fan
4 years ago
Reply to  stommie

No.. It’s height is less than 15 metres required by the EBU to me

Volare
Volare
4 years ago
Reply to  stommie

Milstreet was like that

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago

The truth is there are many good places in The Netherlands, especially as they’re all quite close to each other and so fans can visit other cities easily. For me many enthusiastic cities is a good thing because it signifies AVRATROS would want the ability to host in another city next year, which would mean a very strong host entry.

Frisian esc
4 years ago

It would be absolutely bonkers to have the actual eurovision in my small home province (friesland off course) xD it would take only a half an hour bus ride to get to the venue.
I’m certain that Leeuwarden would be an amazing organizer with all related events and etc. The only (very large) downside is that there isn’t a good enough venue to hold the esc in.

frysk
frysk
4 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

the city might not ahve enough accomodation but the province is big and has good public transport, so you can stay in hotels in cities nearby max half hour by train or bus. nevertheless I don’t know if the public for ESC will enjoy the rurality of the province…

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  frysk

Please tell that to the fans who are hoping for having a good time that they have to stay at a hotel in Tytsjerksteradiel.

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
4 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

You are from Friesland? What a surprise! I would have NEVER suggested this because of your username or picture 😛 Kidding, much love to you <3