Omroep Max Downplays Taking Over Eurovision Participation for Netherlands

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The head of the Dutch broadcasting association Omroep Max has walked back previous statements expressing interest in taking over the Netherlands’ participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Following the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, Omroep Max initially stepped forward as a potential replacement should the primary Dutch broadcaster, AVROTROS, continue its boycott into the 2027 season. However, in a recent interview with the Dutch newspaper AD, Omroep Max Director-General Jan Slagter expressed significant hesitation about his network taking on the responsibility.

“A request is not on the table, but if there were one, we would first have to discuss it internally at Max,” Slagter told AD. He also voiced criticism of the contest’s current musical direction, stating: “Furthermore, the songs performed there nowadays, with all that noise and screaming, don’t really resonate with our target audience. It is more of a show than a genuine song festival”.

Beyond artistic differences, Slagter noted that Omroep Max lacks both the specific expertise required to navigate the Eurovision Song Contest and the financial resources necessary to heavily invest in the competition. Given these constraints, he expressed hope that AVROTROS will ultimately return to the contest in Burgas in 2027.

Background: AVROTROS withdrew from the 2026 contest in Vienna due to objections over Israel’s participation. Despite the boycott, the event was still broadcast to Dutch viewers, with support from NOS and NTR providing commentary.