Back in June, nine cities officially declared their interest in hosting Eurovision 2020 in The Netherlands. Since then, the candidates have been dropping out like flies. Leeuwarden bowed out because its venue’s ceiling was not high enough. Breda cited financial reasons for withdrawing while Den Haag pulled out because of a lack of a suitable venue with a roof. Now, the Dutch capital Amsterdam has also fallen by the wayside, due to the lack of an available venue.
Amsterdam out
The capital of The Netherlands had three possible venues lined up to host Eurovision 2020. With all three venues capable of accommodating the demands of hosting Eurovision, a bid from the capital appeared to be a strong one. However, interest in hosting the contest has been lukewarm among city officials, primarily due to an already overwhelming amount of tourists.
Now, AD.nl reports that it has become clear that Eurovision 1970 host venue RAI Amsterdam and the Ziggo Dome are unavailable over the Eurovision period. The other possible venue — the Johan Cruyff Arena — is home to football team Ajax. The Champions League semi-finalists would be kicked out of their home stadium to accommodate the contest. As per mayor Femke Halsema, that is not on the cards.
In a statement, Mayor Halsema said the municipality of Amsterdam attempted to set up an alternative location in tents. However, the concept has proven to be too complex, leaving Amsterdam with no viable and available venue. As such, the Dutch capital is officially pulling out of the race.
Four down, five to go
The remaining cities in the running to host are Arnhem, Den Bosch, Maastricht, Rotterdam and Utrecht. Utrecht is also considering withdrawal due to financial reasons but remains in the race for now. Amsterdam’s withdrawal means Rotterdam is shaping up as the favourite with 2019 winner Duncan Laurence supporting the bid. The city of Dordrecht — Zuid-Holland’s fifth largest city — has thrown its weight behind the Rotterdam bid. This follows Den Haag also endorsing Rotterdam’s bid. If they win, Rotterdam hopes to put on an 8-week spectacle for the contest’s 65th edition.
Arnhem is stepping up its game, however. The province of Gederland has promised to make a financial contribution if their bid is successful. While an exact figure has not been announced, the assistance certainly makes Arnhem’s bid more feasible. Arnhem’s potential host venue is the GelreDome, home of football club Vitesse Arnhem. The bid would involve the football club having to play its home games elsewhere in the lead up to and during Eurovision 2020.
Regardless of which of the five wins, Amsterdam’s withdrawal means that Eurovision is headed to a city which has never hosted the contest before. The 2020 contest will be the third consecutive edition to be hosted in a brand new host city, following Lisbon and Tel Aviv.
Are you sad about Amsterdam’s withdrawal? Which of the remaining cities would you like to see host the contest? Let us know in the comments below.
Unfortunately, it’s not bigger that football. Football is bigger than us, and if it isn’t hogging a venue, it’s getting first choice of a date for the “Champions League Final.” I wish this wasn’t the case, but it happens every year.
The EBU want Maastricht to be the host, they have a strong preference because of the location and the history.
But badly, though, it’s not as condusive. Somehow it doesn’t ring right.
I have seen other newspapers also citing this article so I would give them some credit.
Looks like “Ahoy There!” or “Ahoy, Europe!” will become next year’s slogan. And how appropriate is that, if ESC goes to Rotterdam and Ahoy Arena is the venue?
And sponsored by Chips Ahoy. 🙂
Well, they were hardly going to use the 1970 venue in any case…
Anyone for tour of Rotterdam’s art museums? No, just me, OK. I found one dedicated to old pinball machines. I suppose I’m taking hubby there to spend some pent-up energy before going back to Rembrandt and Van Dijk
For LGBT travellers: Rotterdam doesn’t really have a gay scene so you’re better of booking Amsterdam for your stay. It’s only an hour on the train to Rotterdam.
Assuming and hoping it will be in Rotterdam now!
LGBT travellers? What does it mean? Gay people are not allowed in Rotterdam?
Um if Rotterdam hosts, it has the biggest gay scene there is – Eurovision.
Nonsense. Rotterdam does have enough place for the LHBT to drink and party!
The good thing about The Netherlands is that LGBT people are welcome everywhere, so you don’t really need something seperate to feel good here 🙂 And otherwise there are enough other possibilities.
Nobody said that gay people are not wellcome there. I guess there are just not too many gay clubs and bars to meet the demand of thousands of gay fans that are coming to Eurovision. But they can have special parties in regular clubs for the event I guess
It’s probably how it was worded.
Why do we need special parties? We can all celebrate and enjoy Rotterdam together. Suggesting LGBT people spend more money and time commuting from a different city every day is weird. We are coming for the music and culture of Eurovision. Not so dependant on gay clubs we’d have to stay in a whole different city to straight people. ?
This is exciting for me because I like it when a new city hosts the contest
Great modern city with amazing architecture will host next year, good arena too!
And I do talk about Rotterdam.
Well it’s Rotterdam then isn’t it. Yet another country not putting it’s best foot forward opting for the 2nd city rather than their flagship city.
Rotterdam is a progressive modern multicultural city that needs a tourism boost, it’s perfect. Amsterdam would not be The Netherland’s “best foot forward”.
Rotterdam is a major port and important internationally- moreover it would be fully committed to Eurovision as it would be the biggest event in the city next year while Amsterdam would have a lot of other commitments to juggle.
This is pretty unrelated (save for people’s hopes that the Metropole Orkest brings the orchestra back to Eurovision next year) but the UNESCON Eurovision convention happened in Hannover last weekend, and the highlight was a concert with former Eurovision stars performing their hits with orchestral backing. It’s all on the Eurovision Germany YouTube channel but here’s the highlight reel, which I recommend you look up: – Elina Nechayeva doing an operatic cover of Scream before going into La Forza – Sebnem Paker doing her ‘90s Eurovision entries (Dinle still slaps) – And the biggie: Chingiz walking back on his complaints… Read more »
I mean, then he forgot the words to Arcade, but hey, still not the worst.
Thanks for the info. I’m glad you are informing us. 😉
I like Rotterdam but I really like Rotterdam!!
If possible, watch the interview with Duncan Laurence in Dutch telly show “Pauw” (4 July), he told more about is upcoming music, and that he is going to the States to work hard on more music (he’s writing 2 or 3 songs a day, which shan’t all be on his album). It’s in Dutch, so keep translate at hand. :.-)
https://pauw.bnnvara.nl/media/690936
Sense prevailed. No venue, no event. 🙂
(Either that or they… broke the dam; couldn’t give a dam; were dammed if they did it… Insert other dam joke here.)
Seeing that Amsterdam is out and Rotterdam literally getting support everywhere, seems’s well be going to say ahoy just in a few months.
I just discovered that Hoi is Hi in Dutch, so there’s a big joke waiting in there.
That’s so ridiculous. It seemed from the start that Amsterdam didn’t wanna host. Then why submit a bid from the first place? It kinda seems disrespectful towards the contest when you win after 44 years and don’t want the contest in your capital. I remember the Austrians had a similar issue where their Wiener Stadthalle was booked with some horse riding event. But they wanted the contest at their best venue and their best city so they fixed the problem.
Don’t submit a bid from the first place if you don’t wanna host, Don’t just make fun of us.
Your “they’re ridiculing us” attitude is kind of ridiculous on itself you know.
Uhm. Have you read my comment?
It’s like a committee-ship situation: people will normally think that this big team called Amsterdam would/can easily host that Eurovision, so their bid is a way to comply with these wishes of support. On the other hand, turns out they got a fig ton of stuff to do, and think they can’t accomplish doing this event, so better than messing it up, it will be better to give it to other teams who prospectively can.
In short, they’re trying to fulfill people’s wishes but at the end of the day they can’t.
Well… They could host “that Eurovision” if they wanted to. My point is they never wanted it from the first place.
You seem to not get it do ya George. Amsterdam has the ability to host Eurovision in any other given time, however, what I’m gonna say and what others are trying to say is that Amsterdam cannot in any way host Eurovision during the month of May the next year as they are already compromised in hosting countless of other events in the same month, which leaves little to no room in hosting Eurovision, plus they already have a problem with high tourism in amsterdam as they have too many people. This could be solved but it needs years to… Read more »
Yeah. I totally not get it ya man. They had all these sudden, unexpected, last minute, unprogramed events, so they dropped their bid midway cause they couldn’t “in any way host eurovision during the month of May the next year”.
But anyway thanks for explaining what you and the others are trying to say. It sucks being stupid my entire life, ya know.
Amsterdam bided to host, but unpredicted and unexpected events didn’t allow it. Thanks
Yes, but people already put Amsterdam as a bid favorite since Duncan’s victory, and it usually is common to think of Eurovision being hosted in the capitals, especially if you already have a venue made for concerts. Ms. Femke is trying to compromise with this so some Ziggo action could become true, eventhough after further evaluations it’s inevitable.
Capital cities are not the only cities! I think it’s good that such exposure and investment from tourists is going somewhere besides the capital. Have no idea what you are trying to say about *disrespect”
*waiting for all other cities to withdraw and Rotterdam being the only bidder remaining*
Looks like we’re going to Rotterdam so
“primarily due to an already overwhelming amount of tourists”
*number of tourists
Debanadaremiwiwibloggsdotcom be like:
into the farmlands
no surprises tho
We all going to Rotterdam next year guys! No way that the other cities will win this. It’s all for Rotterdam. I can’t say I’m not disappointed because I really think the profile of Amsterdam really suits hosting an event like Eurovision (alongside cities such as Berlin, Barcelona, Tel Aviv) cities that where basically made to host ESC. But I really expected it to not be chosen, as the Dutch are really concerned with overtourism in Amsterdam and the tourist board is keen to showcase other parts of The Netherlands. I do hope Amsterdam is included in some way though,… Read more »
Rotterdam’s Maassilo will probably be the Euroclub. It is better then anything in Amsterdam.
http://www.maassilo.com
“I do hope Amsterdam is included in some way though, through postcards or Eurovision: The Party etc.”
Jesus Christ people, let this
every Dutch city should host a Eurovision eventthing go already. It doesn`t make any kinda sense at all. The contest will and should be in Rotterdam and Rotterdam only.I would imagine that of course Amsterdam will at least feature in some of the postcards, like most other years where they showed off the whole of the hosting country.
If Rotterdam wins its bid, it’ll be only the second time a venue has hosted both a junior and adult Eurovision (The Palace of Sports in Ukraine is the other), and the first time it happened after the venue hosted a junior contest.
and i- oop!
Okay, it’s clear everyone is pushing for Rotterdam and given the circumstances, it’s only logical. I applaud that. Other eligible cities should get a chance to shine. I also applaud Amsterdam for being so clear about it and actually withdrawing instead of keeping a fake bid in the air.
I was just listening to Walking Out while reading this hahaha
Yeah, I think that was deliberate.
Surely Rotterdam has the role of host city in the bag now
i know they’re going to announce the host city in august, but they should really just do it now lol
The bidbooks haven’t even been submitted yet!
I knew it would not be Amsterdam right away when Netta was screeching „C U next year in Aaaamsterdaaaaaaaam“
NanaBanana
Didn’t she learn anything from last year?
I know right. She
s so quick to shout out a citys name. When she won she yelled Jerusalem so when she said Amsterdam this year I immediately knew it wasn`t gonna be in Amsterdam.Someone from Wiwibloggs should ask her next year as well lol
We all knew that the broadcasters, government (national and regional) and even the city itself didn’t want to host, but I thought it would remain in the bidding process and just lose to Rotterdam rather than withdraw
Yeah, I didn’t expect Amsterdam to withdraw so soon. But let’s face it, it already has a lot of other things happening in May 2020.
Everybody go stream I Want Your Love by Eduard Romanyuta!! Such a bop :’)
No surprise here, because they didn’t even plan to fight for it.
I wish you could make a reaction video to the 25 winners of P4 Nästa 2019 🙂
What happens if every city withdraws?!
Then the contest will be held in Valentina’s backyard, duh.
With Valentina both hosting and participating 😀
And she will take Jon Ola`s role as well.
AFAIC, it’s between Maastricht and Rotterdam. I’m pulling for Rotterdam but would be just fine with watching ESC2020 in Maastricht.
It won’t be Maastricht. The ceiling of their venue is too low. It will be between Rotterdam and Arnhem.
And it seems it will be Rotterdam
Netta has officially incorrectly predicted the host city on stage two years in a row! The Netta Curse is real!
That’s no surprise, as rumours starting to appear this week, in which it was leaked that the EBU said “Rotterdam would be the best alternative.” I.e. the EBU hoped Amsterdam would’ve hosted it, but Amsterdam wasn’t that keen from the beginning. Rotterdam, however, jumped for joy. So yes, you can bet all your money on Rotterdam. Pity for me, though: Amsterdam would be in reach, and I promised myself I would’ve gone if it were to be Amsterdam. But Rotterdam is just too far away, and even though I have in-laws living in Rotterdam, the 3hour journey is not worth… Read more »
I do hope that other people make the most of it, and make it a festival to never forget! ;-D
At last, I feel proud, I’m walking out.. (Amsterdam 2019)
Rotterdam or Arnhem please, though we know that it’s going to be Rotterdam..
Along with the inevitable three debut city streak, has there ever been two consecutive contests held in non capital cities?
More than a few. The first four contests were all held outside the host nation’s capital (Lugano in ‘56, Frankfurt in ‘57, Hilversum in ‘58, and Cannes in ‘59). After that, there’s ‘82 and ‘83 (Harrogate and Munich), ‘85 and ‘86 (Gothenburg and Bergen), and ‘92 and ‘93 (Malmo and Millstreet). If you wanted to stretch, you could say ‘10 and ‘11, but Bærum is basically considered a part of Oslo.
It isn’t the longest streak of new host cities, though, seeing as every contest between ‘02 and ‘09 was in a country that had never hosted before.
You forgot Naples ’64, Edinburgh ’72, and Zagreb ’90 ( Still in Yugoslavia at the time)
Oh wow that’s a lot. Can’t believe I forgot the first four though!
Yes, the first few years and a few times in the 80s. But that is the most recent so this will be a first in a long time.
4 in a row: Lugano-Frankfurt-Hilversum-Cannes
2 in a row: Harrogate-Munich
2 in a row: Lausanne-Zagreb
Zagreb was technically the capital of Yugoslavia at the time. It would have been three in a row if Italy had hosted in Sanremo as they initially planned (then to Malmo and Millstreet) but they moved it to Rome.
The capital of Yugoslavia was Belgrade, not Zagreb for so far I know.
Belgrade was the capital. Riva was a croatian band, that’s why the host city was zagreb, the croatian capital.
Yes, Rotterdam would be a geat host but Arnhem for example has its Gelredome where more than 20.000 Eurovision fans could watch the show. I would prefer that more than the venues of the other cities.
Well dingus it was my second favorite city to host ESC 2020. Rotterdam better win!