Ahoy, matey! After months of speculation, endless chatter and that early reveal, the Dutchies’ decision has finally been made official. Rotterdam is the host city of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.
Eurovision 2019 winner Duncan Laurence had the honour of making the announcement during a special two-minute broadcast on NPO 1. He narrated a scenic video with these words:
“Is it about showing the beauty of our country to Europe, or even the world?…What is it really about?…Is it about who we are as humans, our nature, our habits?”
“For me it’s about music first, always. But it can be about whatever you want it to be. About what we have in common. About what makes us unique…in a city where being different doesn’t make a difference at all.”
Jon Ola Sand, the EBU’s Executive Supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest, said: “Rotterdam has shown fantastic enthusiasm and commitment and has the right facilities to welcome delegations from over 40 countries next May. We look forward to working with Rotterdam and NPO, NOS and AVROTROS on an incredible state-of-the-art Eurovision Song Contest in a great city next year.”
NPO’s director general Shula Rijxman said: “It is our wish to organize a Eurovision Song Contest that is embraced throughout the Netherlands and also functions as a showcase for our country in Europe. We are happy that as a public broadcaster we can now really work together with Rotterdam and the Ahoy arena to organize a unique event that connects and inspires all inhabitants of the Netherlands and Europe.”
You can watch the reaction of the Rotterdam bid team below. Their excitement has us extra excited!
Medewerkers van @rotterdamahoy hebben net te horen gekregen dat het songfestival in 2020 naar Rotterdam komt pic.twitter.com/EkJ1jOM5bY
— Martijn van der Zande (@vanderzande) August 30, 2019
Rotterdam: Eurovision 2020 host city
Rotterdam’s victory isn’t particularly surprising. After Amsterdam withdrew its bid over the summer, the famed port city emerged as the fan favourite. Its Ahoy arena has a capacity of 15,000 and vast experience with major events. Among other things, it has hosted the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the MTV Europe Music Awards and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007.
While it’s known as The Netherlands’ “second city” after Amsterdam, Rotterdam is riding a wave of cool. In recent years it has been a staple of travel magazines. Bombed heavily during the Second World War, it’s had the chance to re-invent itself with experimental architecture. It’s now known for a vibrant restaurant and food scene and cutting-edge design, as seen at its iconic Markthall.
After The Hague withdrew from the host city race, it threw its support behind Rotterdam. And the province of Zuid-Holland committed one million euros to support the song contest should Rotterdam seal the deal. The city even had support from the reigning king of ESC — Duncan Laurence.
Speaking to 1Limburg — the main news portal in rival host city candidate Maastricht — he said: “I prefer the city near to where I come from and that is Rotterdam.”
Duncan was born in Spijkenisse, a small town in Zuid-Holland, and grew up in the even smaller city of Hellevoetsluis.
Are you excited that Rotterdam has been confirmed? Do you think that the Ahoy is the perfect venue? Let us know down below!
Anything outside England must be a rotten place … but I am sure you will find joy in your own isolation and worshipping both Margaret Thatcher and Queen Victoria as if both were still alive …
More questions of Eurovision life will open in 3… 2… 1…
1. How many participants will we have?
2. Will NPO choose a cheesy slogan?
3. Will the graphic design be blue-themed once again?
4. Will a broadcaster announce their artist as early as September or October?
5. Will there be a national final/internal selection daring enough to be earlier than FiK?
Rotterdam is a port city, yes? “AHOY, EUROPE!” (which I have quoted repeatedly over the last 3 months and which you quoted somewhere further down this page) will suffice. It goes nicely with the venue in which the contest will take place.
It’s too similar to the theme for Lisbon, though.
6. Will they reuse their old Eurovision logo from the last three editions that they’ve hosted?
Congratulations Rotterdam!!!!!! It’s gonna be MEGA!!!!!! Now I’m waiting for two important things.
1: Who will represent my country, United Kingdom?
And
2: Who will host the contest?
I adore Duncan, the Netherlands and Eurovision 😀
Can’t wait for Rotterdam 2020!
With love from Ukraine 🙂
Btw Ruslana wants to come back to Eurovision next year….this is crazy lol
I like that she is such a strong person and activist, such people are very important. Musically, not so sure, I didn’t follow her. Did something good come after “Wild Dances”? And does she speak English yet?
Yes, she speaks English, not as good as Jamala but pretty decent, lol She released few albums after Eurovision ‘Amazonka’ , ‘ Wild Energy’ and ‘Euphoria’, few clips and singles. She also won many international and local awards as activist for Public and Social Activities Although Im not sure its a great idea to come back after you won, for what? back then there was no Vidbir, she was selected internally, now we have very tough competition every year, so many young and talanted artists desperately wants to go to Eurovision, with Ruslana in the run it will be over… Read more »
Nobody should win regardless of the song, that’s for sure. Winners should only come back with an exceptionally good song. Definitely sounds like someone else should go.
She was responsible for Belgium 2014. She made the Flemish believe that they would win with “Mother”.
Oh boy. I forgot about that trainwreck. Supremely bad judgement.
I love and respect Ruslana as a very talented and strong woman, LGBTQ ally , feminist and really important social activist and Influencer, but i want her to stay away from Eurovison, she did great, she became a legend, stay classy and dont spoil your image dear lady
I want Kazka or Khayat to win Vidbir next year , both amazing and unique artists with ethnic style and modern music
I would be very interested in seeing what Ruslana would do on her return attempt, since I actually still really like “Wild Dances.” But I do think they should keep sending new acts – they’re one of the few countries I can think of that’s never double-dipped for representatives. I can think, however, of one exception…
*”Dancing Lasha Tumbai” starts playing in the distance*
Oh Khayat is so dreamy and handsome and charming and talanted and hadsome ….swoon…
But seriously he is my new obsession after Laud, haha! And his English is prefect, as his Arabic and his Ukranian, and did i say he is handsome? 😛
English skills? She will need a translator by her side like the 80s and 90s Latin Miss Universe contestants … because why bother learning English if I can just sing it phonetically … or in her case … scream and yell while head banging and jumping singing out of breathe … But hey … that is what fans want expect and refuse to denied.
Good luck 🙂
Oh my days…
How expensive is the accommodation???
Wish maastricht had won…..had a limit on room prices…. Rotterdam are bumping up those hotel costs……..
And that’s an argument? Come on!
No one is poitting a gun at your head for you to start stressing and complaining about it … you don’t have to go if it is beyond your budget … Eurovision is an experience not an annual religious cult … or is it and I have been missing something while focused solely on the music??
Not everybody can be rich like you charles, Eurofans with a middle class budget can also dream of being able to go to esc someday when the chance finally arrives.
Hi, my girlfriend and I are thinking about renting out our apartment on Katendrecht in Rotterdam during the Eurovision. As we already planned a holiday, we thought we might as well rent it out during the week. You can send me a WhatsApp on +31624120632 if you’re interested.
Amazing news! I have a feeling the dutch are going to organize the best eurovision we’ve seen so far!
Christer Bjorkman and SVT will haunt you down for such audacity … lol
Why? Do you really think they care??
It’s overbooked since this morning…
From what I have seen on the Web, they have enough space at the entire Ahoy campus to hold 20,000: 1) The main Ahoy Arena, which holds 16,000. With one of the narrow sides reserved for the stage, they’re likely to put as many as 12,000 to 13,000 in there… 2) Theater Hall 1, which holds 4,000. Assuming the main arena doesn’t have a basement area suitable to set up a “green room”, they can set up the green room here, and hold more spectators (those who couldn’t get tickets for the main arena) to watch the show on big… Read more »
What I’m figuring is that they’ll take Israel and Sweden’s lead for #2 and do that. It’s increasingly proven to be a good way of accommodating the number of fans hoping to watch it live and still give the artists a chance to interact with them and relax.
You must be fun at parties. Probably keep saying you’re going to leave and never do.
We can rule out Theresa May. Brexit killed her career. Who is a female with a career thanks to Brexit?
Congratulations Rotterdam! And yes, I was pro Maastricht, but ofc there is no time to be salty, because it will be an amazing Eurovision and Duncan’s video was really well done! 😀
Plus … There are more important things than the place where it takes place … like the music you know the reason the contest exist … but in this suffocating social media world where there is the desperate need to share with the world every 5 seconds that you peed or pooped … it’s inevitable that fans need to know every single not so relevant detail about Eurovision otherwise one falls in deep depression unnecessarly. Yet it’s still a song contest but …
Can Bjorkman just stay away from the production this year? I’m sure the Dutch are quite capable to organize this themselves without his, or Swedish involvement.
Thanks.
Best of look Rotterdam, best of luck Netherlands and best of luck to ESC 2020.
Finally someone speaks Wisdom ? … But I am sure Christer is now busy trying to be the Simon Cowell of Eurovision in the States … but shhhh don’t let anyone know that he was almost last in 1992 … you don’t want Trump tweeting about it, do you? Lol
Well that’s up to the dutch! If they believe they can’t live without Björkman or swedish involvement it’s not Björkman’s fault. I don’t think he knocks on their door and begs to be a part of their production. Or any production for that matter. He just has alot of experience of what he’s doing and does a great job in my opinion. Every country should have someone like Björkman working with their national selection.
They made an obvious and great choice, most fans are happy with it and Maastricht got a lot of publicity. I would say the Netherlands started it with a win-win-win situation.
I am so proud! Rotterdam it is! Welcome everybody!
Kind of obvious but a great choice nonetheless! The previous Rotterdam editions were great with really good songs! I have high expectations for this
Rotterdam never hosted before.
The Netherlands have, and there have been a bunch of songs from their hosting gigs that are great (Volare from ‘58; Gwendolyne from ‘70; Greece, Monaco, the UK, Switzerland, and Israel in ‘76; and Germany, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Belgium (lol), and the classic song from the Netherlands themselves in ‘80). Also, isn’t it funny that this is the first time Belgium is competing in the Netherlands with their Dutch (Flemish) broadcaster?
A Brexit woman daring to write in any other language than English??? Conservatives will haunt you down ask Henry VIII to wake up from death and behead you himself lol
My biggest wish to the Dutch team is for them to get the most magnificent stage Eurovision has ever seen and set a new standard. There’s no excuse not to, now that the arena is appropriate. No, actually that is my second biggest wish. The number one priority is for them to stand up to Bully Björkman and exclude him completely, thereby also setting new, better standards for a fairer competition. Hope is alive. Oh and in case this goes well, why not give Sand’s job to a Dutch executive after Rotterdam? The Netherlands are off to a good start,… Read more »
It looks like they are creating a team without Björkman. Yesterday they announced Gerben Bakker as head of show. He did shows like The voice of holland, an annual Dutch award show and JESC 2007 and 2012. They also announced two directors, who are both Dutch. Seems like they’re going for a complete Dutch team, but I’m not sure yet.
I’m so very happy The Netherlands are hosting. So far. I did not agree with the 2019 results, but them hosting could potentially turn out to be the best thing to ever happen to the contest in its current state, after so many wrong turns. It is LONG overdue for a host country to finally say: “No thx. We got this”. I hope they’ll also pick a Dutch stage designer.
I never understood why the Portuguese after so many years of not winning didn’t organise the show themselves.
You would think the Portuguese of all people would say “Our way or no way.” The show content itself was their way, though.
And fans hated it with all their hearts … cause the land of “non-commercial-MTV-generic-music” would never loose their ground and showcased what music meant to the country (feelings and no fireworks). But you just don’t mess with the fans 2 week playground party with such views against their worshipped generic commercial mainstream pop paradise. You just don’t … thus Israel winning with a clapback message “you don’t mess with our party Salvador”.
Fans still wonder to this day why they had to put up with purely Portuguese sung intro and interval performances of non-pop numbers … and no LEDs … Portugal ruined the playground for everybody on what was supppsed to just be a song contest … Anyway … I can understand that not being experienced for an over-the-top TV show (cause Portugal is not into these sort of TV formats) Sweden way too experienced in this matter had to be dragged in to help. Or fans would fall asleep … Wait … didn’t they when Caetano Veloso performed with Salvador? Weren’t… Read more »
One question: Did the 2018 and 2019 organization teams “officially” include Björkman? Correct me if I’m wrong but what I remember is that they didn’t, but somehow Björkman was still involved in making the running order etc. Unlike in 2017, when he was officially announced as a producer, but that was because Ukraine was Ukraine. I mean, if the 2018 and 2019 teams did not officially include Björkman but he was involved anyway, it’s not confirmed that he won’t participate in this even if the Dutch don’t announce him. What I’ve understood is that the only non-Björkman year since 2013… Read more »
That’s why I said hope is alive. Official or unofficial doesn’t matter, the damage is the same. I’m not that foolish to believe we’re already in the clear from the devil. But there’s no doubt that The Netherlands can do it as well as Denmark, if not better.
Bjorkmamm is the Trump of Eurovision: it’s all about him …he will include himself regardless … to keep us forgetting he was almost last in 1992 … maybe who knows …
So you want a stage where the singers and dancers are microbiotics …. and LEDs are the focus …right … and as for size you want it to occupy half Rotterdam city … You do know this is a song contest and not a the VMAs version for gay pride right?
We all knew that it would be.
My first choice was Amsterdam really, I can’t say that I wouldn’t have preferred it to be hosted in the capital. HOWEVER…Rotterdam is a great choice, as the country’s second city with great nightlife, tourist/cultural sites and an excellent arena, I am glad that Rotterdam was chosen when the first city couldn’t.
Maastricht you look beautiful and maybe sometime in the future, your hosting days will come, but Rotterdam has this.
Looking forward to ESC 2020
I AM OVER THE MOON!
I will welcome everybody personally in my hometown Rotterdam!
And guys come have a tea or latte with me in exciting 010 as we call it! 🙂 Xx
Way to go, Rotterdam! Maastricht was a surprisingly strong contender, but the Ahoy was the best venue and Rotterdam is the perfect city for the job. I’m sure it’s gonna be great!
This will be the third Dutch city to host at the start of new decade, after Amsterdam in 1970 and The Hague in 1980…both won by Ireland. Maybe this bodes well for the Irish, fifty years after their first win…?
God do I hope so
If only Jonas….if only.
Ireland will probably not win again…unless every other country withdraws.
I would love to see Dublin host a contest sometime though, even if just once more, I was too young to remember 97
Send more stuff like 2018 and less stuff like 2019. Duncan’s winner honestly wasn’t too divergent from the formula that helped Ireland out in the ’90s and with Johnny Logan, if perhaps with a little more depth.
Expected but still a welcome announcement. It’s a great city that has a lot of symbolic significance, but the practical benefits required to host ESC and fans.
Now that we know the host city, I just hope the Dutch broadcaster will do a great job and set the bar high for the contests taking place in the decade that will start with Rotterdam 2020 . See you there!
Welcome Eurovision in my hometown! The best and only logical choice.
Took a gamble and booked accommodation this morning in Rotterdam may 12 to 16th. All I need now is tickets
This gonna be the best eurovision since 2012 in Baku
Mark my words!
Cause 2012 was a good Eurovision ? lmao
It was surely not the best, but it was very good: the venue, the songs especially, the opening ceremony.. the hosts were ok as well.
I thought song-wise it was absolutely one of the stronger years. The atmosphere and the hosts absolutely not.
It is a great city and I always suspected that it was going to be the choice.
As expected, I think based on the announcement video alone we can conclude that this edition of ESC will be awesome and put up with a lot of effort. Also extremely happy to see that all producers are Dutch and that there is NO! involvement of Björkman! Finally after 5 years..
There’ll probably be like 43 postcards to show the beauty of every corner of the Netherlands. I guess limburg will get multiple ones for their big efforts.
Yes it’s in my city ROTTERDAM and now i can walk to the Eurovision Song Contest for about 15 minutes from my home OMG!!!?
Also, that’s a great pick up line hahaha
OMG! This is brand new information! The EBU masterminds have once again shown the world how its done. If only other institutions were such competent communicators.
?? It was a long time you’ve been in Rotterdam, isn’t it?
Concrete? This isn’t some former communist state like the one you live in. You are so salty. Where are your alts btw? Still waking up?
Well, all of those cameras are going to be inside Ahoy. I’m not even going to be in Rotterdam in May, so I just wish the set to look good.
So glad that I’ve been on team Rotterdam since the moment Duncan Laurence won ESC 2019, it should’ve been seen as a little obvious all along tbh with it’s solid track record of hosting major international events(such as Euro 2000 final, JESC 2007, MTV EMAs 1997 & 2016 and the annual ATP 500 Rotterdam Open) something tells me Rotterdam 2020 is going to be an excellent highly memorable Eurovision on par with Lisbon 2018, Stockholm 2016, Baku 2012 & Moscow 2009 and I hope I’m not wrong! there’s also a song that’s gonna be stuck in my head for a… Read more »
Don’t forget copenhagen 2014. That one was iconic
YESSSSSSS that was the best!
Google Translate?
Lisbon 2018? Are you fcking kidding me? 0_o
Well, for some. I love Lisbon 2018, the intervals were simple and the set is lively and lovely.
Right? Also, Baku? WTF?
Don’t forget Frankfurt ’57!
Can we take a moment to appreciate how many effort they put in this little video of announcing the city! This already looks really promising for an amazing ESC edition!!
Exactly, it kinda reminded me of that opening video for Lisbon 2018.
Why are you being downvoted ? o_o
I just hope the postcards show all the beauty of the different provinces of The Netherlands
Thank GOD For this! Im soooo excited!!!
the circus is finally over
nah it’s haram (and i ain’t even muslim)
Ahoy, Europe! Will be waiting for the great show we will have in Ahoy in May!
I really wanted the dates to be after May 20th
Why?
It was clearly to be early. Being both the football Euro and the Olympics on the summer, they needed to left free the second half of May for UEFA club finals and pre-Euro friendlies.
It had to be R’dam. All the bets, all the polls, and as I had been told, most of the Dutch, were leaning in that direction.
Now, suppose if the Dutch win again? Maastricht would quite probably be unavoidable. MECC has a year and a half or more (depending on when the next Dutch victory comes) to raise the roof to meet EBU standards.
they better send davina michelle then
Davina is born in Rotterdam, so that would be awesome 🙂
I want Ilse again
Well, speaking of odds… The Dutch have a pretty bad track record in the past four decades, so what do you think the odds of them winning again are? 😉
Reasonably high, considering their upturn in fortune since 2013 – and now that they’ve actually won, I would imagine that would increase interest all the more, and demonstrate to Dutch singers and songwriters that it actually can be done. I’d say they’re in with a decent show of winning again relatively soon. More so than other recent winners like Austria, Portugal, Israel.
Moreover the Dutch are in the position to host again soon and there was a heated bidding war between a lot of cities. Clearly other places in the country want the chance to host and this would have an effect on how AVRATOS approaches the contest in the next decade
And if they should win, especially within the next 5 years, how quickly can Maastricht renovate their ceiling to meet standards, even if they were to start the renovation now? That is, assuming they still want the contest upon the next Dutch victory.
FYI No countries has ever won Eurovision and Junior Eurovision in one year. Imagine if the Netherlands did just that this year!!!!
Rotterdam, here we go! Better find some comfy shoes to stroll along all city museums. And yeah, hubby would like the pinball one.
I wonder if it will be Unser Lied fur Rotterdam, or Unser Lied fur The Netherlands. Germans always choose the one that rhymes.
Unser lied fur den Niederlände i guess
I am Austrian and I think that it will be “Unser Lied für Rotterdam”, otherwise the title might be too long – “Unser Lied für die Niederlande”. I think that the city Rotterdam is known well enough for people not to be confused by “Unser Lied für Rotterdam” 🙂
It varies, doesn’t it? 2018 was Unser Lied fur Lissabon, but 2019 was Unser Lied fur Israel.
But 2017 is just Unser Song. A lot of possibilities.
And yeah, that Rotterdam leak was OBVIOUSLY just some page testing, EBU 😉
That page wasn’t meant to be found. Once someone found it, their cover was blown and they hastily created a Maastricht page full of errors. Someone had to have been fired over this.
Omygod I LIVE IN ROTTERDAM I’m so happy
You’re lucky people 😉
Thank God. Don’t know why it toke so long, rotterdam was the obvious choice
Commiserations to Maastricht fans though.
Rotterdam, baby!
I’m so so happy, Rotterdam was a clear favourite here with a fantastic arena, that is surely gonna make Eurovision proud.
I can’t wait for ESC 2020, I’m sure the Netherlands are gonna prepare a splendid show and see you in R’dam!
Thank the Lord Jesus for this. It was a close one, but in the end the only acceptable option won tbh.
Jeeeeeej… congratulations!!!!!!!