Eurovision 2020: Breda enters the host city bidding race

by Sanjay (Sergio) Jiandani 1,969 views

The City of Breda has officially applied to host the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands next year. Thus bringing the number of cities who so far have signed up to hold the competition to nine. Reportedly cities can send in their official applications to NPO until today. Hereafter the potential cities will receive a book with the conditions they must meet in order to host the event and have four weeks to prepare their respective bid books and proposals.

Breepark in Breda (Photo credit: Breepark)

Breda is located in the south of the Netherlands, namely in the province of North Brabant with a population  of circa 180,000 inhabitants. The city has a rich historical and cultural heritage.

Breda is vying to host the Eurovision Song Contest at the Breepark, an event complex with a capacity of 13,000 spectators.

Breepark Complex in Breda ( Photo credit: Breepark)

Thus Breda is the second city in the region of North Brabant which has officially applied to host the event along with Den Bosch. Breda’s Breepark can accommodate 13,000 visitors and adjacent festival area of 2.5 hectares. A large area will also be required to house the Press Centre, Delegation Bubble, dressing rooms, Production Area etc. Whilst the Brabanthallen at Den Bosch has space for at least 20,000 spectators.

Dare to Dream in Breda

Breepark  in Breda is daring to dream in bringing the ESC home and is already campaigning with this year’s slogan #DaretoDream and the  ‘Songfestival in Breda’ caption.

Breda has officially signed up to host the competition and it would like to receive the bid book procedure, which sets outs the conditions to host the event.

If the city of Breda does not meet the conditions of hosting the event it’s willing to play a key role in the competition.

Daan Quaars (Events Councilor City of Bred) says:

Breepark has said we are interested in the Eurovision Song Contest. If Breda does not say we want, one can no longer participate. We would like to know what the conditions are. Only then we can see what is feasible.

No city can organize the Eurovision Song Contest alone. If Den Bosch organizes, people will also have to sleep in Breda. You can draw a circle of half an hour around the city, you will also arrive in Rotterdam. Imagine if the city gets to organize the event, then Breda will also play a role!

The story so far

The 2020 Eurovision Song Contest will be co-organized by Dutch national broadcasters NPO, AVROTROS, NOS.

The following cities have officially applied to host the 2020 ESC edition:

  • Rotterdam
  • Amsterdam
  • The Hague
  • Utrecht
  • Maastricht
  • Leeuwarden
  • Arnhem
  • Den Bosch
  • Breda

The 2020 Eurovision Host City Bid Process will consist of three phases with the final decision on the 2020 Eurovision host city expected to take place by mid summer.