Dutch artist Waylon, who represented The Netherlands as part of The Common Linnets at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, will replace singer Anouk as coach in the upcoming new season of The Voice Of Holland.

Anouk, who represented The Netherlands at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö with the song Birds, has decided to leave the popular TV-show The Voice Of Holland to focus on the birth of her sixth child.

Although is is yet unclear if her break from the show is temporary, her seat in the show will be taken by Waylon, succesful solo artist and formerly known as main male vocalist of The Common Linnets during Eurovision 2014.

In an official statement, Waylon says:

Of course I feel very honored and am really looking forward to it!

The Voice Of Holland is very popular, and the format has been adapted by broadcasters worldwide. In The Netherlands, the show also has many ties to Eurovision: not only Anouk and Waylon, but also Ilse DeLange (The Common Linnets) and Trijntje Oosterhuis (Eurovision 2015) have been coaches, while participants of the show have either taken to the Eurovision-stage (Joan Franka, Eurovision 2012) or have other ties to the ESC (Ivan Peroti, national selection for the ESC 2012, Jennie Lena, background singer for Trijntje Oosterhuis during Eurovision 2015 and chairwoman of the Dutch professional jury for Eurovision 2016, etc.).

Waylon (born Willem Bijkerk, Apeldoorn 1980) rose to fame after his participation in the TV-show Holland’s Got Talent in 2008, although he had been singing from an early age. He became the first Dutch artist to be signed with the famous record label Motown.

Waylon was asked to participate as a guest-artist in Ilse DeLange’s project The Common Linnets, and represented The Netherlands at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen (Denmark), winning semi final 1 and eventually earning the second place in the grand final with the song Calm after the storm, with a total  238 points.

After Eurovision, Waylon decided to leave The Common Linnets due to creative differences, and to focus on his solo career. Known for his powerful and warm voice, Waylon is currently working on new material, returning to his longtime passion: country music.

For more information, visit thevoiceofholland.com.

Enjoy Waylon and Ilse DeLange as The Common Linnets, in the official videoclip for Calm after the storm:

And enjoy Waylon performing the song Jailbird in the Dutch TV-show RTL Late Night: