Moments ago, esctoday.com's Dutch partner website, Songfestival-Weblog have confirmed that SBS Shownews reported tonight that 'de Toppers' will represent The Netherlands at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow.
The Toppers are a three-piece singing group consisting of Gerard Joling (who sang for the Netherlands at the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest), Gordon and Rene Froger. They are highly popular in The Netherlands and regularly play to sell out crowds at their concerts.
According to www.songfestival-weblog.nl, NOS is set to officially announce the news tomorrow. They are expected to sing several songs in a national final, although no comment has yet been made about whether they will select the song themselves, or whether a jury or televoting will be used to determine which song they perform in Moscow.
Until tomorrow, at least, NOS have not changed their statement that no decision has been announced and that negotiations are taking place with several artists. de Toppers' popularity would almost certainly help NOS to achieve a ratings hit with a national final and increase viewing figures for the Eurovision Song Contest which have declined sharply in recent years.
Below you can see their Motown Medley from one of their sell-out concerts in 2005:
