Dutch broadcasters NPO, AVROTROS and NOS have announced four new key team members for Eurovision 2020.

The Dutch public broadcasters have named two Executive Producers and two Deputy Executive Producers.

They are:

  • Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer Event
  • Inge van de Weerd, Executive Producer Show
  • Emilie Sickinghe, Deputy Executive Producer Event
  • Jessica Stam, Deputy Executive Producer Show

The fantastic four will each play a key role in the organisation of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in the Netherlands.

Bakker is the best known figure to Eurofans.

He is a contest veteran, with past credits in communication and supervisor roles for the EBU. On top of Executive Producer duties, he’ll also serve as point of contact for the EBU and NPO.

Bakker says, “We want to create a Eurovision Song Contest that surprises Europe in a positive way, something that everyone in The Netherlands can identify themselves with and be proud of.

“We have set the bar high, but there is so much talent and creativity in The Netherlands that I am confident that it is possible. The ambition of this team to really make something special out of this, together with the chosen host city or region, is great!”

The other Executive Producer, Inge van de Weerd, is also an ESC veteran. She served as the Netherlands’ Head of Delegation for three years between 2007-2009 and has past experience in live TV events, including the Dutch Royal Wedding in 2002.

Emilie Sickinghe has been Dutch Head of Delegation since 2010 and Jessica Stam has past credits on large TV projects. Sickinghe says winning the contest in 2019 and hosting in 2020 is a once in a lifetime experience.

Production work will begin in the coming weeks. An announcement on the host city is expected in August.

What do you make of the team? Are you excited for them to swing into action? Let us know in the comments below!

GET MORE NETHERLANDS NEWS HERE

Photo Credit: EBU

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Fatima
Fatima
4 years ago

I want to see a random running order again. I want to see the places drawn as the semi-final qualifiers are announced. Two things which Björkman eliminated.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
4 years ago
Reply to  Fatima

That would be great, who doesn’t love 5 ballads to open with one uptempo song in between which then gets a massive advantage! 😀

Fatima
Fatima
4 years ago

Yes Roelof, but I’d rather have randomly generated advantage than one decided by a producer. One reason, it’s clear that the policy of deliberately ending with an uptempo number gives that song a massive disadvantage, while we also know that the opener won’t win either. So let’s hope that Bakker will come up with something new. Also the televote reveal needs to be unspoilable. Easy for me to say, I know, but someone must be able to find a way to do it. Björkman hasn’t.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Fatima

I can see the disadvantages and advantages, and on balance, I think I would prefer to go back to a random draw. I don’t like seeing the hotly tipped songs getting the prime slots based on hype…it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If viewers come to expect the best songs from slots 20-25 then why should they even bother watching the first 20?

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
4 years ago

Sorry but yall acting like Björkman is the devil is ridiculous. What did he do to ESC that is so bad? I however do think that we need someone from the country itself to make to make the Running Order, to make it more fair.

summer time
summer time
4 years ago

Agree, Bjorkman brought ESC into 21st century. He enabled creativity, and everybody had its desires accepted and put on stage. And about running order…Robin Bengtsson was first, because of the staging.

Henrikh Mugosa
Henrikh Mugosa
4 years ago

Björkman isn’t obviously the devil. But -correct me, if I’m wrong- , when it was decided that the running order wouldn’t be drawn anymore and it would be up to the show producers to decide it… that year, the show producers were Sweden, right… Therefore, Björkman got that job… The question is: how do we go from the show producers decide de running order to Björkman decides de running order every year. It can be done, but only one guy can do it in the whole of Europe, in the whole Universe. And that guy is Björkman. To me, this… Read more »

Eileen
Eileen
4 years ago

Rotterdam has a lot common with Eurovision, the WW2 reference is a brilliant way of showcase how the city found new ways of creating a better place, a more modern & inclusive city. Eurovision has the same story and was a project that could unite Europe after a torn apart Europe. Maybe the slogan could be: Create Passion
Rotterdam is the ultimate choice!

From Canada <3

summer time
summer time
4 years ago
Reply to  Eileen

We should milk ww2 as much as we can, because ww3 is knocking at the door.

IDIDSOMETHINGBAD
IDIDSOMETHINGBAD
4 years ago

#istandwithtaylorswift

SoldierOfLove
SoldierOfLove
4 years ago

Woah, a fellow Swiftie! We find each other in the unlikeliest of places! And yes, of course, let’s support our queen. #whysitfeelsogood

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

oh wow…..oh wow a team that’s 100% dutch n 0% swedish

I.A.A
I.A.A
4 years ago

The executive four of the 2019 contest weren’t Swedish either, yet Björkman still managed to be involved and was the Contest Producer, I won’t be surprised if it’s gonna be him this time again.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago
Reply to  I.A.A

ilse delange better take his spot quick

Dutchfan
Dutchfan
4 years ago

Headlines in the NL say its almost 100% sure that it will be held in Maastricht. I still hope it will be Rotterdam tho.

RoboESC
RoboESC
4 years ago
Reply to  Dutchfan

Don’t worry. That comes from 2 news sites from Limburg/maastricht itself.. but the AD took the ‘news’ over. It’s literally based on nothing and claims of (perhaps not even existing) insiders. Just to create hype around the city and benefit from the publicity. They even claim is the EBU that prefers maastricht (lmao), if there’s one party that’s gonna trash maastricht’s bid, it’s the EBU. Maastricht should withdraw cuz they dont even meet the requirements like the height of the venue. Big fat JOKE.
Congrats Rotterdam! 😀

Frisian esc
4 years ago

Off topic: there are rumours in Dutch tabloids that the ebu has a considerable preferance for Maastricht.

Preuss
Preuss
4 years ago

What’s the big deal about Björkman in this community except from the fact that he’s doing the running-order for the big night?

Justice
Justice
4 years ago
Reply to  Preuss

That’s what he may want you to think while he’s backstage pulling like a hundred different strings with the EBU dudes as very willing puppets. And even that one thing, the running order, is bad enough.

Preuss
Preuss
4 years ago
Reply to  Justice

Okay do you have actual proof that this is the case?

Justice
Justice
4 years ago
Reply to  Preuss

With all the coverage about him on here, his actions, the wishes he expressed, what he did in the Swedish NF and wants to have on Eurovision as well, I can draw educated conclusions. Smart shady people don’t actually tell you all their views and goals and plans. Of course he is presenting himself to just be helpful and totally innocent.

pepe
pepe
4 years ago
Reply to  Preuss

The fact that he is also behind Melodifestivalen, where his involvement isn’t impartial either and were it is obvious who he wants to win.
He then does the running order, including the one from his own country. Even if he is impartial, it is also about perception, conflict of interest and wearing two hats. For the sake of fairness etc, he shouldn’t be involved, unless the host broadcaster is SVT of course.

Preuss
Preuss
4 years ago
Reply to  pepe

I thought he wanted Loreen to win back in 2017, but she lost to Anton Hagman in AC. Agree though that it’s not ideal that he’s doing the running order for his own country, but Sweden is top 3 in semi-finals every year so I don’t see the problem that they get a good draw which I think would’ve happened no matter who decided the running order really. And I’m not sure if it predominately matters exactly where you are placed in the running order, I think it’s more important what kind of songs you are placed in between perhaps.… Read more »

Justice
Justice
4 years ago
Reply to  Preuss

Loreen 2017 is the one thing I give him credit for. If Sweden would actually send such songs to Eurovision, them (almost) winning the jury vote would not be the injustice that it has become at all. And I agree, we have seen that people are not influenced by the running order as much as we think, they vote for what they like. And even so, it’s still not right he gets his hands on it. Getting a favorable position for Sweden from the Swede running the Swedish selection is insane.

Jack
Jack
4 years ago

NO SWEDISH MAFIA! THAT’S GREAT NEWS

Micha
Micha
4 years ago

Nice team!

Justice
Justice
4 years ago

A fair voting would be the biggest positive surprise at this point. I wanna say I am glad that Björkman finally is not there anymore to make things worse but firstly we don’t know that for sure yet and secondly if one evil goes away, there’s always a possibility that a bigger evil follows. Unimaginable but who knows… Certainly the possibility of this actually being a Dutch thing is exciting. Can’t even remember who the last host not bowing down to Mr. Evil was.

Justice
Justice
4 years ago
Reply to  Justice

Don’t give me nightmares. 😛 Fingers crossed all the positions you mentioned will be filled with able Dutch persons and Mr. Evil goes to the USA to fail.

Conor K
Conor K
4 years ago

Very happy with Sietse Bakker as a producer. He created ESC Today, the top ESC fan site in the 2000s (noughties), he is an inspiration for Eurovision fans everywhere as he too started off as simply a fan of the Eurovision. The man is a legend 🙂

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Conor K

And it’s still around today! He’s one of us.

Justice
Justice
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Although it’s rubbish now. He had a great idea inventing it and it still had a couple of good years after he left but now it’s just a trash site. Thankfully, this site turned up just in time to fill the void of getting decent Eurovision info.

Loin dici
4 years ago

Interestingly, this is the first time we will have two Execs after a while, one heading for the show aspects and one heading for the overall event. I can see a bit of Mr. Bakker’s preference, reviewing from his IG alone, but not much can be found about Ms. van de Weerd. Although, from the selections she headed during 2007-2009… a good taste? Or no?

Stardust
Stardust
4 years ago
Reply to  Loin dici

I mean 2007 and 2008 were both decent entries, they just weren’t good enough. Now 2009 on the other hand… that was a trainwreck 🙁

summer time
summer time
4 years ago

The war on white straight male.

summer time
summer time
4 years ago
Reply to  summer time

comment image

pepe
pepe
4 years ago
Reply to  summer time

My favourite movie ever.

summer time
summer time
4 years ago
Reply to  pepe

Yes, mine too.

Raoul
Raoul
4 years ago
Reply to  summer time

Wasn’t Zivit Davidovich this year’s executive producer?

pepe
pepe
4 years ago

So no Swedish involvement.

esc26
esc26
4 years ago
Reply to  pepe

I’m pretty sure Björkman will find a way to be involved in this contest aswell

pepe
pepe
4 years ago
Reply to  esc26

Maybe they need someone for the catering.

Micha
Micha
4 years ago
Reply to  esc26

Dutch TV have a lot own TV show producter … they can make the show without Björkman like JESC2007 and JESC2012