Hangar 11 was the site of the EuroClub in Tel Aviv. And as we build bridges to the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in The Netherlands, there’s another Hangar 11 in the mix. But this Hangar 11 isn’t a club — it’s part of Twente Airport in the eastern town of Enschede.

Yes, you read that correctly. The airport, which is actually a former military base, hopes to stage Eurovision 2020 inside one of its former plane workshops. Call it a case of “F16s to wind machines!”

Twente Airport no longer services military planes, but it does welcome charter flights and private jets. Speaking to Tubantia, its commercial director Marten Foppen said he isn’t crazy and that no dream is too big.

“People say it is especially nice that we stick our neck out and do our best for it. Some think that we have no chance because it will be organised in the west of the country. But, as I said on Monday, if you think that way, you will never achieve anything here in Twente.”

Enschede, where?

With a population of around 160,000, Enschede sits in the east of the country in the province of Overijssel. It’s just a few kilometres from Germany. The city was bombed several times during the Second World War, and was one of the first Dutch cities to be captured by the Germans.

Eurovision 2020 would occur during a solemn period for the town. May 2020 will mark 20 years since a massive fireworks explosion killed 23 people and wiped out the entire neighborhood of Roombeek. Eurovision would, in many ways, be a symbol of regeneration for a town that has stared tragedy in the face.

Today’s story is a happier one. Nodding to the city’s conservatory and pop academy, the local tourist board describes Enschede as the epicentre of music and culture in the east of the Netherlands, with a splendid range of shops and boutiques.” Apparently it also has “the most convivial public square in the Netherlands,” with Old Market Square surrounded by “several cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs.”

So about Hangar 11…

The airport’s commercial director told Tubantia that he’s busy lining up potential partners and that there’s wide interest at home and abroad.

“Even from Germany, from parties from North Rhine-Westphalia. And from a hotel in Münster that would like to participate and asks how we can tackle this together…We visited the new Provincial State members of Overijssel and there too heard many positive sounds. This creates a domino effect. ”

He said they would decide over the next two weeks whether a bid is actually feasible.

The hangar is 10,000 square meters and has a capacity of around 10,000 people. One staffer told AD.NL that the space has strong acoustics — “even Madonna sounds good here”.

Foppen’s enthusiasm for his idea is endearing, even if it sounds far-fetched. He took AD.NL on a tour and you can hear him smile.

“This can serve as a press room, here we can make a Eurovision campsite, with a kind of village and large screens,” he said. “And here [pointing at the parking lot] we can easily park 3,000 cars.”

Any divas with their own private jets will feel right at home. “They can literally land here a stone’s throw away, in a private jet or Boeing 747, and thus enter the Eurovision Village.”

Curiously, we’ve found several videos on YouTube of airplanes conducting their final landings at Twente Airport. Apparently it’s a great place to land if you want your plane taken apart and sent to the scrapyard.

The above YouTube video was captioned:

“On December 6th 2017, this KLM 747 made its very last landing, at the small airport of Twente, The Netherlands. This 747 will be scrapped at the airport, and parts of the plane will be re-used. It was the biggest plane ever at Twente airport. The result was, that hundreds of aviation enthusiasts and other interested people showed up at the airport to watch this KLM 747 landing. Very happy that I was able to make this quite unique footage.”

How do you feel about all this? Does the idea of spending time in a former military base during Eurovision seem remotely feasible? Or is Mr Foppens just having a bit of fun with all of us? Let us know down below.

77 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Cara
Cara
4 years ago

Netta landed here to pick up Duncan to travel to Tel Aviv 😉

Ben
Ben
4 years ago

I expect the roof to be too low. How is a big stage and are seating stands possible there?

Rinora F
Rinora F
4 years ago

Fun Facts:
For Eurovision 2010 NRK didn’t have enough money to host Eurovision and Broadcast FIFA world cup.. So they threw the world cup away and all the Norwgian people get really mad!!

For Eurovision 2012 the government used the plumbing economy to get to host Esc instead.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  Rinora F

The Azeri government apparently evicted residents without compensation to build the Crystal Palace- I’d rather have a lacklustre venue than see people become homeless as a result of the contest

Cyprus 2020
Cyprus 2020
4 years ago

People were worried about Cyprus hosting the competition… When the Netherlands wants to host it in a f’ing hanger.. lol.

Depre04
Depre04
4 years ago

Interestingly, the explosion mentioned was on the day of eurovision 2000, so The Netherlands didn‘t broadcast the show and switched from Televote to jury vote.

Brooklyn
Brooklyn
4 years ago

Amsterdam or no one!

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
4 years ago
Reply to  Brooklyn

I am from Brooklyn; and from where I’m sitting, given the Amsterdam mayor’s unwillingness to put up a fight for the contest, there’s a better chance they’ll hold it in Armin’s backyard (Leiden) than Amsterdam…

…But it looks pretty obvious that Rotterdam is the front-runner now. “Ahoy There!” and “Ahoy, Europe!” sound quite appropriate as possible slogans for ESC 2020, given the very name of Rotterdam’s main entertainment and sports complex.

Tilo
Tilo
4 years ago
Reply to  CookyMonzta

Very similar to 2018 “All aboard”, though 🙂

dygh
dygh
4 years ago

“Even Madonna sounds good here”
Sold, take my money, I’m buying my ticket, don’t mind hotel capacity I’ll be camping

put them in jail
put them in jail
4 years ago

I have three likes, so you know what I mean. We are coming for more. (Joke)
comment image

everyone has scandinavian heritage-final result
everyone has scandinavian heritage-final result
4 years ago

Rotterdam or nothing.
Next year you must buy another song from Sweden because you’re Swedish anyway. Sweden is the real sponsor.

Cesar's salad
Cesar's salad
4 years ago

So it is “sour pickle season”, as we say in German, when unnessary and impossible things become news.

Justice
Justice
4 years ago
Reply to  Cesar's salad

To be fair, we get that category literally all year round here.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
4 years ago
Reply to  Cesar's salad

That perfectly sums up a lot of eurovision based articles on here, especially when it’s slow after the contest is over.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

it could host a singing contest for smurfs with that low a$$ roof

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
4 years ago

Would that hangar and its low ceiling be acceptable for JUNIOR Eurovision?

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
4 years ago

I always love special places. This might be slightly unrealistic, but it is entertaining 😀 But I worry about the height: Kate Miller-Heidke wouldn’t have been amused about this 😀

Nikki
Nikki
4 years ago

I kinda like everyone and their mother wants to host. Other countries would just get 2-3 bids, but The Netherlands is like ‘got a barn ready, let’s host.’

Vincent
Vincent
4 years ago
Reply to  Nikki

Hospitality at its finest xD
I have a small attic, in case the proposed venues are not good enough 😉

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  Nikki

It’s like a “our economy is great, social cohesion is generally good throughout the country, we have no territorial disputes” bragging exercise- so everyone gets a hosting bid. To paraphrase Oprah “You get to submit a bid! You get to submit a bid!”

Hector
Hector
4 years ago

Since 2014 contest was held in a former industrial complex, I don’t see why this should be a bad idea. Thing is this is not in Amsterdam nor Roterdam though

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
4 years ago
Reply to  Hector

Because the ceiling at B&W was much higher.

Do you see those rails stretching from one end of the hangar to the other? Kate and her sidekicks would have banged their necks into those rails swaying from one end to the other on their fiberglass poles. “Zero Gravity” would have been a no-go when they have zero headroom for the staging plan. 🙁

keith mawson
keith mawson
4 years ago

My vote is for Barneveld !!!!!! 🙂 Nice place , egg capital of the Netherlands , good B&B’s and I went with a friend to see Omnia there once (now they should do ESC) only half an hour on the train from Schipol airport . What’s not to like hehehehe Just kidding

Vincent
Vincent
4 years ago

Anyway in regard to that video. Deban is quite negative towards hosts cities beside the largest (capital) city. But I completely understand the concern, I think it is more the “fear” for the unknown. If another country considers to hold it in a smaller city, my eyebrows might frown too tbh. Rotterdam just had a very negative image just only ten years ago. Even among Dutch citizens, it had the image of a dirty labour port city with a lot of crime and unsafety. But it experienced an amazing make-over in just less than ten years time, with a lot… Read more »

Monica
Monica
4 years ago
Reply to  Vincent

There are nearly 3 million people within a 25km radius from Rotterdam. It is by no means a small provincial town. It has Europe’s largest port by far and is an economic powerhouse.
I agree would be a lot more interesting host city than “cliche” picture-perfect Amsterdam. Rotterdam will truly surprise people. It is probably the most “american” city in Europe.

Vincent
Vincent
4 years ago
Reply to  Vincent

Indeed! I’m happy if it will be hosted in Amsterdam too! But the nice thing is: When its hosted in AMS, many people prob. wont leave AMS during their stay. But when its hosted in RTD. people are forced to go to RTD, while they probably will also visit AMS during their stay (Schiphol Airport is really close to AMS). So you can show best of both worlds (old vs modern) in a very short time. Also dont forget; hotel prices in AMS are much higher than in RTD. Especially next year when there is Formula1, Sail, UEFA Cup, Kingsday… Read more »

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
4 years ago

It seems like someone took this year’s grand final opening a bit too seriously.
Anyway, the locals’ passion is so adorable. We all know that for them the hosting bid is kinda a losing game, but well, if it’s overseen by the same people that generated the scores for Belarussian jury, who knows, maybe it’s Twente Twenty Twenty.

Stan
Stan
4 years ago

‘Even Madonna sounds good here’ 😀

the fireworks disaster happened on the same date as eurovision 2000, actually. the broadcast was interrupted and the televoting cancelled. i see some strong symbolism in organising it there at more or less the same date. Linda Wagenmakers can perform again. will they allow pyro?

Meliris
Meliris
4 years ago
Reply to  Stan

13th of may 2000, I watched eurovision from a hospital bed(until they cut the broadcast) for this reason. It was a surreal day.

Loin dici
4 years ago

This might be only a novelty bid, but it sure adds some flavor towards the process!

Ahoy or Ziggo Dome still are the most ideal venue choices capable of hosting. Johan Cruijff or GelreDome is still on some potential to host, unless the owner or the production can ensure a good level of acoustic quality. Big arenas would have a lot of echos and it’s kind of tricky to work the angles with that much space.

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
4 years ago

Jesus Christ…

I swear, the gymnasium at my university is larger than that..

FR fan
FR fan
4 years ago

Lol, the two most amazing things in life for me are airplanes and then after eurovision. Strangely though, the idea of combining the two seem… not to be a good idea xD though I have to admit, it’s quite cool to have a plane spotting station just outside of the eurovision village 🙂 but still, no thx. Also <3 you Netherlands

INAMOO
INAMOO
4 years ago

This can be the green room

cancel the agenda
cancel the agenda
4 years ago

Don’t blame me for posting gifs, I just can’t help it. The host must tell where the show will be. Fans want to book hotel rooms as soon as possible, because is cheaper that way.comment image

cancel the agenda
cancel the agenda
4 years ago

This is Eurovision. Netherlands, just show your best.
Off topic, learn from animals how decent they can be,
even when they know they have more power.comment image

Justice
Justice
4 years ago

Is it really likely that it will be anything but Amsterdam? I imagine the Dutch EBU dude who also started out with a fan page like this is going to lobby for the capital, no?

St An
St An
4 years ago
Reply to  Justice

Rotterdam can also do a VERY good bid. Facilities are just as good as Amsterdam, it only lacks the international appeal. But in May 2020, there are already some other big events in Amsterdam. People want to reduce tourism in Amsterdam and give attention to other parts of the country, so Rotterdam is a very good option.

Justice
Justice
4 years ago
Reply to  St An

I know that. My questions is if it is realistic for the people in charge to go somewhere other than the capital.

Justice
Justice
4 years ago

It would be so fun if that is what the Netherlands offer the EBU. I want the EBU to be treated as horribly as they treat the fans and voters. But unfortunately, that would help nobody as this crap organization IS Eurovision. We are stuck with them.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
4 years ago

The next bid is probably gonna be an abandoned factory in Drenthe.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago

Serving former industrial REALNESS!

keith mawson
keith mawson
4 years ago

Orveldt !!!! lol they can do cheese making for the postcards

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
4 years ago

Only if it’s as big as B&W Hallerne in Copenhagen (2014).

cancel the agenda
cancel the agenda
4 years ago

Hope for no h a t a r i anymore. They have no idea that Pal… use their own children for war.
Watch this, is just a little more than one minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWhwLUw5stI

cancel the agenda
cancel the agenda
4 years ago

Please, send this link to h a ta a r i if you are in touch with them. After all, civilisation and decency should prevail.

cancel the agenda
cancel the agenda
4 years ago

I agree with Deban at minute 8:20 : Don’t use my 2 weeks to showcase your village.
This is Eurovision, give it your best, otherwise pre-parties will be more glamorous than Eurovision itself.

Jo.
Jo.
4 years ago

Rotterdam isn’t some random small city.

Robbert
Robbert
4 years ago

Esc is not organised for Deban, but for the millions of tv viewers. They don’t care whether it’s organised in a cowshed or in a big hall. On top of that Deban is supposed to work in the pressroom. He shouldn’t care where this is.

cancel the agenda
cancel the agenda
4 years ago
Reply to  Robbert

All right, so Netherlands will be known as “the village people”. In my humble opinion, it’s more ecological to have esc in a big city, and the rest of the country should be just forest, wild, free, forest.

Anonymous ESC Fan
Anonymous ESC Fan
4 years ago

The hall, HANGAR 11, is dome shaped, means that it has irregular ground to ceiling height, varies between 5 metres on the left and right side (not enough space for the grandstand (stadium-type seating), to 13 metres in the middle.. EBU requires a hall with a minimum height of 15 metres. And yeah. HANGAR 11 hall is as big as Tel Aviv Pavilion 2 (where 2019 Eurovision was held).

Conclusion: HANGAR 11 is, sorry, incapable of hosting.

For more details about HANGAR 11 and its description, look here: https://ibb.co/M2Dvd2M

Danielle
Danielle
4 years ago

This is the most useful comment here. Thank you.

Rio
Rio
4 years ago

Ehm April the 1st Was a long time ago …

Sonia
Sonia
4 years ago

1981 – Theatre
1991 – Movie Setting Studio
1993 – Horse Stable
2014 – Shipyard
2020 – Hangar
2021 – Valentina Monettas House

KESC
KESC
4 years ago
Reply to  Sonia

Hope there is space for the green room in her garden.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  KESC

Well if San Marino wins they need to host it in her house. A true KWEEN of ESC

Bari
Bari
4 years ago

omg Expo Tel Aviv esc made people think that eurovision can be held anywhere… next please

Taker
Taker
4 years ago

https://youtu.be/Qk93aWUurNg
Watch here about esc….

James
James
4 years ago

Eurofans on lesser known municipalities and cities: Why bother?
Millstreet, Ireland: Hi.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  James

In the days of vintage Eurovision, where less countries competed and the rule on languages was in place, the UK and Ireland were always more likely to win and thus host- thus creating the opportunity to showcase different cities in the same country, and necessitating a change of scenery because hosting Eurovision repeatedly can get expensive and inconvenient for even large cities. Now, in an age where countries don’t win on such a frequent basis anymore (sans Sweden) Eurovision would provide a far rarer hosting opportunity that people would want only major cities to handle.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
4 years ago

Low ceiling. The bleachers will not rise at a steep-enough angle for the people seated in the back to see the stage past the heads of the people sitting in front of them. And when the people in the front start standing (and there are bound to be standing ovations left and right), viewing for the people in the back will be impossible. The pipes and struts overhead will be another obstruction to the view of the stage. And judging from the pictures, it looks even smaller than Tel Aviv’s Pavilion 2. You’ll be lucky enough to get 5,000 in… Read more »

Saynanana
Saynanana
4 years ago

Eurovision 2021 venue: abandoned garage

keith mawson
keith mawson
4 years ago
Reply to  Saynanana

Serhat’s mansion

AntonESC
AntonESC
4 years ago

Yes….I can go by bike….it’s my city. But this will not happen. It will be Ahoy Rotterdam, I think…

stommie
stommie
4 years ago

What surprises me most is that William actually put an effort in writing a serious article about this. This bid deserves all the ridicule it can get. There is a fine line between cute and embarrassing. This bid is way over that line.

Vincent
Vincent
4 years ago

I know, it might look strange for people all over Europe/Australia that there are so many smaller unknown towns participating in the bidding process, because in other countries it’s mostly only the larger well-known cities. But you should see it in the smaller context on national level; municipality officials working in offices are usually not die-hard Eurovision fans whom are aware of such a large active global Eurovision communities like Wiwibloggs (where people like to discuss everything including the host city). For many people this might feel like “wth why would they host it in such a relatively small unknown… Read more »

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  Vincent

Yes. I really appreciate all the bids because it demonstrates a level of appreciation for the contest- and I’m all for the promotion of different cities and towns. At the very least, they could become part of the pre party season or could be featured in postcards.

Darren
Darren
4 years ago

No no no no and eh no!
Let’s face it, we get these reports every year. “Local council wants to hold Eurovision in a field between two trees”.
We know this won’t be the host location. We know it will either be Amsterdam, Rotterdam or The Hague. (Probably Rotterdam, but I’m hoping for Amsterdam).

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  Darren

The Hague has no venue. The World Forum (former Congresgebouw, host of 1976 and 1980) is too small. The football stadium has no roof. And EBU will never allow the contest to be held in a tent.

Darren
Darren
4 years ago
Reply to  stommie

Well then it’s simply between Adam and Rdam.

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  Darren

It might be useful to follow this tweep:
https://twitter.com/kinu_unik/status/1133727941915922432

He seems informed.

Gav
Gav
4 years ago

I love it. It’s crazy. It’s fun. Lots of potential to focus in on. TV audience. It’s kind of refreshing.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago

Judging by the recent video, Deban would LOVE this 😛

stommie
stommie
4 years ago

Technicalities. I am sure Marten Foppen will find a solution for all those things you mention.

EscFan2008
EscFan2008
4 years ago

It looks great!Thank you, NEXT

Jo.
Jo.
4 years ago

It’s between Amsterdam and Rotterdam, since The Hague can’t provide something with a roof on it.
A dark horse would be Maastricht.

stommie
stommie
4 years ago

#daretodream
So happy to read that there is a hotel in Munster that wants to host 15,000 guest.