The Dutch Government will decide on November 25, whether it will approve additional funding for NPO, to aid hosting Eurovision.
November 25 will see the a debate Tweede Kamer of the Dutch Parliament, regarding additional funding for NPO. The broadcaster is asking the Media Minister to approve a one-off funding package of between 15 and 20 million Euro, to ensure the broadcaster can adequately host the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.
Shula Rijxman, the Chairman of NPO, has previously stated:
The public service broadcaster has undergone significant cuts and another cut is coming. This is a wonderful event in which the Netherlands is put on the map both economically and culturally. It is really a party from and for the Netherlands. We will therefore ask The Hague for that money.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 will be held at the Rotterdam Ahoy, which was opened in 1971, and has undergone multiple refurbishments. The venue can hold up to 17,000 people and has previous experience of hosting Eurovision events.
To date, 41 countries have confirmed preliminary participation. These countries are:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Duncan Laurence was selected to represent the Netherlands in Tel Aviv with the song “Arcade”. He won the final with 498 points, giving the Netherlands their fifth Eurovision win and their first since 1975. Duncan’s victory also sees Eurovision returning to the Netherlands for the first time since 1980.
Source: BM.nl
