Dutch Broadcaster AvroTros Boycotts Eurovision for Second Year — What It Means for Fans and Viewers in the Netherlands

Dutch broadcaster AvroTros has announced it will pull out of the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, marking a second consecutive year of boycott over Israel’s continued participation. The decision, made public on August 24, 2026, has reignited debate about the contest’s neutrality and raises practical questions for Dutch fans and expats living in the Netherlands.

Why AvroTros Is Walking Away

AvroTros, the Dutch public broadcaster traditionally responsible for selecting and supporting the country’s Eurovision entry, said the contest has lost its “neutral character” because Israel remains a participant while engaged in a large-scale military conflict. In a statement, the broadcaster cited “the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing attacks on press freedom” as contributing factors to growing divisions around the event (DutchNews.nl).

AvroTros director-general Taco Zimmerman said: “The Eurovision Song Contest was originally created to bring people and countries together, but it has become a platform for division.” The broadcaster stressed that participation is “no longer consistent with the values of AvroTros: trustworthiness, independence and humanity” (BBC News).

EBU Rule Changes — Not Enough, Says AvroTros

Earlier in August 2026, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU — the international organisation that oversees Eurovision) updated its rules to ban a winning country from hosting the following year’s contest if it is involved in a “sensitive geopolitical situation.” The change effectively formalises what already happened when Ukraine won in 2022 but could not host due to the Russian invasion — the 2023 contest was held in the UK instead.

But AvroTros said these new rules do not go far enough. The broadcaster wants “transparent rules” on which countries can compete at all when they are involved in armed conflicts. Without that, AvroTros argues, the contest cannot be truly neutral (NOS).

What Does This Mean for Dutch Eurovision Fans?

AvroTros’s boycott does not automatically mean the Netherlands will have no presence in the 2027 contest, which will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria. The Dutch public broadcasting system (NPO) includes multiple broadcasters. When AvroTros pulled out of the 2025 contest, the NOS and NTR — two other public broadcasters — stepped in to air the semifinals and final on Dutch television, though they did not field a Dutch entry.

Now, the question is whether another NPO broadcaster will take over both the broadcast and the selection of a Dutch act. The NPO said it is “considering its options” (NOS). The minister of Education, Culture and Science, Letschert, said she respects AvroTros’s choice but noted that “it is up to the NPO to look with other broadcasters at providing a Dutch participation for 2027. So there is still hope for all fans” (NOS).

For internationals living in the Netherlands this means: if you were planning to watch Eurovision on Dutch public TV next year, it may still be broadcast — but the Dutch song, artist, and national selection process are uncertain. The final decision will likely come in the coming months.

Other Countries May Follow

The Netherlands was one of five countries that refused to enter the 2025 contest. AvroTros’s renewed boycott could encourage more countries to stay out of the 2027 edition. The EBU’s director of the contest, Martin Green, said the organisation “regrets” AvroTros’s decision but respects its views, and “we very much hope that audiences and artists in the Netherlands can continue to be represented” (BBC News).

The Bigger Picture

This is not just a spat about a song contest. AvroTros’s stance reflects a growing tension within the EBU: should Eurovision remain a purely apolitical event, or does participation itself carry political weight? The Gaza conflict, and the international outcry over civilian casualties and press restrictions, have made Eurovision a flashpoint. AvroTros is calling for the EBU to develop clear criteria for participation during armed conflicts — something that currently does not exist.

For now, Dutch fans will watch and wait. The 2027 contest in Burgas may or may not feature a Dutch act. But one thing is clear: AvroTros will not be involved until it sees “a restored independent and neutral character” in the competition.

What you can do: If you want to stay updated on whether the Netherlands will participate, keep an eye on announcements from the NPO and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The timing of the decision will affect not just TV viewing but also any opportunities for Dutch artists to compete — something many international residents may not realise is part of the public broadcasting system here.