The 2024 Dutch Eurovision representative, Joost Klein, had declined AVROTROS’ offer to represent the Netherlands at the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel.
AVROTROS and the Netherlands have confirmed their participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel.
Joost Klein (Netherlands 2024) was offered to represent Netherlands in Basel but has decided to decline to the offer.
Joost Klein has released the following statement regarding Eurovision 2025 via his official Instagram account regarding ESC 2025:
I’ve made the decision to not participate in Eurovision 2025.
My team and I had everything ready, but it just doesn’t feel good. I am very thankful for all the love around the world, however I am still very affected by this year. I need to give myself more time to heal. It was my dream to do Eurovision and we did that. For months I had this feeling that I needed to make a return to finish the job. But in reality: we reached a higher goal. Europapa united a lot of people. This story is not just about me, it’s about us. I’m grateful.
People from all over the world try to learn Dutch and that makes me very proud of my language. We have achieved something previously claimed to be impossible. We harnessed the true power of the Internet.
So maybe I was blind, but now I see clearly. I must follow the light. Not to fight it. The media is what it is, but I have no place in it. I am not made for this big “machine”. My path is different and I welcome anyone who wants to join this adventure. Trust the process.
I believe one of my purposes in life is to connect people. Through music, (digital) art and performance. My European and US tour is sold out and I can’t wait to play my new album there. Come all together. This life is crazy but know..
I’m still standing
Europapa
Joost Klein represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with his entry ‘Europapa’, he qualified to the Grand Final in Malmo. He was the disqualified from the competition due to an alleged incident with a camerawoman.
Source: AVROTROS/ Joost Klein
Photo credit: EBU
