Are you a former Dutch Eurovision star? If so, clear your diary for Saturday 16 May 2020. That’s because Shula Rijxman — the chairperson of the NPO Board of Directors — has formally invited all living past participants from the Netherlands to the grand final of Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam.

Eurovision 2020: Every past Dutch act invited

Rijxman broke the news during the board’s annual New Year’s speech.

She also mentioned that she is looking forward to creating a real, Dutch version of the Eurovision Song Contest with millions of viewers together with NOS and AVROTROS. Rijxman explains:

“The 65th Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam is an absolute highlight for the public broadcaster this year. For this special Dutch edition, we are inviting all former Dutch participants who are still among us to be there: from Lenny Kuhr to the Toppers. And from Anouk to Teach-In. Our national music history under one roof at the Grand Final of “our” Eurovision Song Contest”.

It is not yet clear whether the invitation means that the former participants will take part in the show, or whether they will simply be in the audience.

In her speech, Shula pointed out how special it is that the song contest takes place in the Netherlands after 44 years.

According to the Dutch public broadcaster NPO, the 65th edition of Eurovision will be a very special one.

“It will be a unique edition, on which a fantastic team is working hard at the moment.”

Sietse Bakker, the executive producer for 2020, adds:

“With this edition of the Eurovision Song Contest we celebrate – in addition to everything that the Netherlands has to offer in 2020 – also 65 years of Eurovision legacy. It therefore only makes sense for us to honor all former Dutch participants by inviting them to celebrate this special moment with us. “

Former Dutch Eurovision participants

Jetty Paerl † (1956), Corry Brokken † (1956, 1957, 1958), Teddy Scholten † (1959), Rudi Carrell † (1960), Greetje Kauffeld (1961), De Spelbrekers † (1962), Annie Palmen † (1963), Anneke Grönloh † (1964), Conny Vandenbos † (1965), Milly Scott (1966), Thérèse Steinmetz (1967), Ronnie Tober (1968), Lenny Kuhr (1969), Hearts Of Soul (1970), Saskia en Serge (1971), Sandra (†) en Andres (1972), Ben Cramer (1973), Mouth (†) and MacNeal (1974), Teach-In (1975), Sandra/Xandra Reemer † (1976, 1979), Heddy Lester (1977), Harmony (1978), Maggie MacNeal (1980), Linda Williams (1981), Bill van Dijk (1982), Bernadette (1983), Maribelle (1984), Frizzle Sizzle (1986), Marcha (1987), Gerard Joling (1988), Justine Pelmelay (1989), Maywood (1990), Humphrey Campbell (1992), Ruth Jacott (1993), Willeke Alberti (1994), Maxine & Franklin Brown (1996), Mrs. Einstein (1997), Edsilia Rombley (1998, 2007), Marlayne (1999), Linda Wagenmakers (2000), Michelle (2001), Esther Hart (2003), Re-union (2004), Glennis Grace (2005), Treble (2006), Hind (2008), de Toppers (2009), Sieneke (2010), 3JS (2011), Joan Franka (2012), Anouk (2013), The Common Linnets (2014), Trijntje Oosterhuis (2015), Douwe Bob (2016), O’G3NE (2017), Waylon (2018) and Duncan Laurence (2019).

So far, it is not yet known which artists will actually accept NPO’s invitation.

What do you think of this invitation? Which former Dutch Eurovision entrant is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.

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