It’s a rare occasion for the Netherlands to be able to call itself the host of the Eurovision! In Rotterdam in 2020, that honour was set to become a reality, but due to the pandemic, the live event that was due to attract thousands of visitors was cancelled.
All is not lost, however - the special rebooted edition will take place in May 2021! A "normal" version has already been ruled out, and a social distance-friendly edition will go ahead. So, expats and internationals, let’s enjoy it.
Celebrate the Eurovision online, broadcast live from Rotterdam
So if you want to be part of the action, don’t miss out this spring! Watch all the Euro song action on-screen, broadcast on NPO, and soak up the fun atmosphere.
In 2019, Duncan Laurence took to the Eurovision stage and came home a winner. As a result, the Netherlands is the host country for this edition. The iconic Ahoy event venue in Rotterdam is where the Eurovision high-jinx is taking place, which usually welcomes swathes of music-loving people. This year, audiences will watch remotely from home, waiting in anticipation to see which country will win!
Eurovision 2021 schedule
The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, May 18: First semi-final
Thursday, May 20: Second semi-final
Saturday, May 22: Grand Final
Eurovision presenters
Edsilia Rombley
Chantal Janzen
Jan Smit
Nikkie de Jager
Photo credit: NPO / AVROTROS / NOS
Open Up in Rotterdam
The slogan of the 65th Eurovision is “Open Up”, which serves as the creative foundation of the event. It reflects open-mindedness to the world, both in musical and artistic expression by performers in the song competition and serves as a reminder of how important it is to open up to other people and their opinions and differences and to respect one another.
The Eurovision was established in the decade after the Second World War with the aim of bringing European countries closer together through music. It has since opened itself up to new countries and concepts and is ever-innovative, which is a symbol of what Eurovision stands for.
Plan your Eurovision night
Will you be cheering on the Dutch act, or the performers from your home country? Plan a night in with your flatmates or loved ones and some Dutch snacks and perhaps a few Dutch beers!
The executive producer of the show, Sietse Bakker said: "a lot depends on what is possible at that time, on the availability of all those involved and on what fits the spirit of 2021". So, let's wait and see what is going to happen. For now, you can browse the Eurovision website for more.