Country Netherlands Selected entrant O'G3NE | Selection process Internal Selection Selected song "Lights and Shadows" | |
Selection date(s) Artist: 29 October 2016
Song: 3 March 2017 Selected songwriter(s) Rory de Kievit
Rick Vol | ||
The Netherlands will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with a song performed by girl group O'G3NE, who were internally selected by the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS to represent the Netherlands at the 2017 contest in Kiev, Ukraine. O'G3NE's appointment as the performers of the Dutch entry was announced on 29 October 2016.
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Background
Prior to the 2017 contest, the Netherlands had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifty-seven times since their début as one of seven countries to take part in the inaugural contest in 1956. Since then, the country has won the contest four times: in 1957 with the song "Net als toen" performed by Corry Brokken; in 1959 with the song "'n Beetje" performed by Teddy Scholten; in 1969 as one of four countries to tie for first place with "De troubadour" performed by Lenny Kuhr; and finally in 1975 with "Ding-a-Dong" performed by the group Teach-In. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004 contest, the Netherlands had featured in four finals. The Dutch least successful result has been last place, which they have achieved on five occasions, most recently in the second semi-final of the 2011 contest. The Netherlands has also received nul points on two occasions; in 1962 and 1963.
The Dutch national broadcaster, AVROTROS, broadcasts the event within the Netherlands and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. The Netherlands has used various methods to select the Dutch entry in the past, such as the Nationaal Songfestival, a live televised national final to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. However, internal selections have also been held on occasion. Since 2013, the broadcaster has internally selected the Dutch entry for the contest. In 2013, the internal selection of Anouk performing "Birds" managed to take the country to the final for the first time in eight years and placed ninth overall. In 2014, the internal selection of The Common Linnets performing the song "Calm After the Storm" qualified the nation to the final once again and placed second, making it the most successful Dutch result in the contest since their victory in 1975. For 2017, the broadcaster opted to continue selecting the Dutch entry through an internal selection.
Internal selection
After months of rumours, AVROTROS announced that girl group O'G3NE will represent the Netherlands at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest on 29 October 2016. They previously represented the country on home soil on the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007, finishing 11th out of 17.
At Eurovision
According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country (Ukraine) and the "Big 5" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. Therefore, the Netherlands will have to compete in the semi-finals.