Are you a former Dutch Eurovision star? If so, clear your diary for Saturday 16 May 2020. That’s because Shula Rijxman — the chairperson of the NPO Board of Directors — has formally invited all living past participants from the Netherlands to the grand final of Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam.
Eurovision 2020: Every past Dutch act invited
Rijxman broke the news during the board’s annual New Year’s speech.
She also mentioned that she is looking forward to creating a real, Dutch version of the Eurovision Song Contest with millions of viewers together with NOS and AVROTROS. Rijxman explains:
“The 65th Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam is an absolute highlight for the public broadcaster this year. For this special Dutch edition, we are inviting all former Dutch participants who are still among us to be there: from Lenny Kuhr to the Toppers. And from Anouk to Teach-In. Our national music history under one roof at the Grand Final of “our” Eurovision Song Contest”.
It is not yet clear whether the invitation means that the former participants will take part in the show, or whether they will simply be in the audience.
In her speech, Shula pointed out how special it is that the song contest takes place in the Netherlands after 44 years.
According to the Dutch public broadcaster NPO, the 65th edition of Eurovision will be a very special one.
“It will be a unique edition, on which a fantastic team is working hard at the moment.”
Sietse Bakker, the executive producer for 2020, adds:
“With this edition of the Eurovision Song Contest we celebrate – in addition to everything that the Netherlands has to offer in 2020 – also 65 years of Eurovision legacy. It therefore only makes sense for us to honor all former Dutch participants by inviting them to celebrate this special moment with us. “
Former Dutch Eurovision participants
Jetty Paerl † (1956), Corry Brokken † (1956, 1957, 1958), Teddy Scholten † (1959), Rudi Carrell † (1960), Greetje Kauffeld (1961), De Spelbrekers † (1962), Annie Palmen † (1963), Anneke Grönloh † (1964), Conny Vandenbos † (1965), Milly Scott (1966), Thérèse Steinmetz (1967), Ronnie Tober (1968), Lenny Kuhr (1969), Hearts Of Soul (1970), Saskia en Serge (1971), Sandra (†) en Andres (1972), Ben Cramer (1973), Mouth (†) and MacNeal (1974), Teach-In (1975), Sandra/Xandra Reemer † (1976, 1979), Heddy Lester (1977), Harmony (1978), Maggie MacNeal (1980), Linda Williams (1981), Bill van Dijk (1982), Bernadette (1983), Maribelle (1984), Frizzle Sizzle (1986), Marcha (1987), Gerard Joling (1988), Justine Pelmelay (1989), Maywood (1990), Humphrey Campbell (1992), Ruth Jacott (1993), Willeke Alberti (1994), Maxine & Franklin Brown (1996), Mrs. Einstein (1997), Edsilia Rombley (1998, 2007), Marlayne (1999), Linda Wagenmakers (2000), Michelle (2001), Esther Hart (2003), Re-union (2004), Glennis Grace (2005), Treble (2006), Hind (2008), de Toppers (2009), Sieneke (2010), 3JS (2011), Joan Franka (2012), Anouk (2013), The Common Linnets (2014), Trijntje Oosterhuis (2015), Douwe Bob (2016), O’G3NE (2017), Waylon (2018) and Duncan Laurence (2019).
So far, it is not yet known which artists will actually accept NPO’s invitation.
What do you think of this invitation? Which former Dutch Eurovision entrant is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.
It would be interesting to see Anouk and Trinitje together after drama back in 2015 …
#cryingforattention
I like this idea. We saw a taste of with the 2019 contest with all the four israeli winners (and a couple past participants) taking part in the grand final.
They should be in the postcards!
I would like to see Snelle as interval act.
His last song “Smoorverliefd” is so beautiful + I really miss hearing Dutch at Esc
Frizzle Sizzle and Ruth Jacott!!!
Just imagine them all on stage, together! That would be so beautiful :’)
Fingers crossed for Common Linnets reunion.
I don’t know if other countries already did the same, but it would be lovely if it becomes a tradition.
From 1974 to 2000 they send good song almost every year for me their golden era
Very sad that almost all the first ones are dead.
Hi Esma. The title of this article isn’t clear. I think you need to rephrase/reword the title for better clarity. Thanks. 🙂
If I am not mistaken every year the host broadcaster ask all the past participants to come and do things for the contest.
Not at all, every one is different.
In ESC 1990 winner group Riva from 1989, was not invite by TV Zagreb, to partcipate on stage to sang or deliver flowers for ESC 1990 winner or to seat in hall.
Super weird
In 2000, there was no sign of Charlotte Perrelli. I think she and SVT had an argument.
She told them to ask Miss Sweden to give trophy to the winners, IIRC.
What I wished happened every year. Sing a medley now please. Wish it’d happened with Ukraine in 2017 since they’re pretty epic.
It makes me a little sad to see that long list of history, and then crosses behind many names. I wished they would still be alive to see the event in 2020. Now it feels as if it’s history which you cannot reach directly anymore. Luckily there are a lot of them still with us, and I hope as many as possible will attend, because that would be impressive. Plus I would love to see what they look like now, especially participants which never were in the spotlights anymore after Eurovision, like Treble, Hind, Esther Hart and many older artists.
one of Treble did the voice of holland after eurovision, reached the first liveshow Marlayne hosts a late night news show now mostly here called ”hart van nederland” or ”heart of netherlands” few of the older dutch acts like Lenny Kuhr, or Teach-In’s Getty are very nice, we saw Lenny at songfestivalfeest, got a huge applause from eurofans there Sieneke (of that father abraham song) still records music as of today, still doing well either as singer de toppers hold their annual concerts, now with our usual commentator, and one of this years hosts Jan Smit as their most newly… Read more »
Esther Hart is very involved in “J’aime la Vlie” an eurovision weekend on the beautiful Dutch island Vlieland. There have been 3 editions. A weekend with a couple of former esc artist from different countries. The fourth edition is planned for June. See at www. Jaimelavlie.nl
I think some of the participants don’t really have fond memories of participating and inviting them is actually pretty cruel.
Well, if you’re gonna invite some and not all, it’d be crueler, no?
I really hope that all the deceased ones get an invitation too and be all seated in the front row.
I respect The Netherlands so much as a country and as a Eurovision country! Even if I don’t always love their entry (2015…), they always bring some type of quality. They have also brought some af my favorite songs this decade (2012,2013,2014,2017 and 2019)<3 Lots of love to the Netherlands, and great to see that former stars are invited to ESC 2020!<3
You don’t love their 2015 entry???? You need new ears and new brain and fast.
WHY? WHY AY AY AY? WHY AY AY AY?
Nah, it’s a good news, although we’ll be asking where will they seat in the arena.
In front of the stage, as a replacement of the ogay lords would be fantastic. i bet they won’t ruin the performances for the viewers. That would be truly unique.
Genuinely laughed out loud to your remark.. Happy with my Ogay lord ticket though haha my first time, promise to behave.. 😉
Ilse should be seated between her two besties, Anouk and Waylon. I’d love to watch that show.
Put Trintije next to Anouk too and you’d have the ultimate Dutch Euro-drama
Bet Anouk won’t even attend.. Ilse and Trijntje are pro’s and Waylon is a pretentious f*ck, outlaw my ass.. Partyyy
turn of the millennium legends marlayne, linda wagenmakers and esther hart need to attend
Wrong country
This is perfect! I wish other countries did this
One of the Hearts of Soul (Patricia) died in 1996 by the way.
Mans Zelmerlow must be so disappointed.
What happened? Have I missed some drama?
when did he became dutch? or have i missed something? this is a dutch article
Since his win in 2015 he has been involved in literally every eurovision after, I think we don’t need yet another Mans cameo. Love Mans tho
Not in every. For instance, he wasn’t involved in 2018 edition
It was last year right? Not 2018
I’m wishing for Treble and Trintje Oosterhuis! Btw why does Duncan almost always takes pictures with his mouth really open? It’s a bit annoying but I get he likes it that way I just wanted to share my throughts hahahaha
Nah, photos of him is with his mouth closed are pretty common, too.
Firstly, I want to see OG3NE. Then, Ilse, Anouk, Douwe, Lenny Kuhr, Sieneke and the Why-ay-ay lady in her legendary outfit. The 2009 freak show doesn’t need to be honored but they of all people probably won’t miss it.
I mean with the WHY-AY-AY lady performing there is no need for the other artists, they are just going to ashame themselves, no one can compete with the legend herself. I already feel sorry for all the other Eurovision performers. They are just a warm up for her.