1. Background

2. Before Eurovision
     Internal selection  

3. At Eurovision
    Semi-final  Voting  Points awarded to The Netherlands  Split voting results  Points awarded by The Netherlands 

4. References

The Netherlands participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. Waylon was internally selected by the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS on 9 November 2017 to represent the nation at the 2018 contest in Lisbon, Portugal.

Background

Prior to the 2018 contest, the Netherlands had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifty-eight times since their début as one of seven countries to take part in the inaugural contest in {{Escyr|1956}}.^[1] Since then, the country has won the contest four times: in {{Escyr|1957}} with the song "Net als toen" performed by Corry Brokken;^[2] in {{Escyr|1959}} with the song "'n Beetje" performed by Teddy Scholten;^[3] in {{Escyr|1969}} as one of four countries to tie for first place with "De troubadour" performed by Lenny Kuhr;^[4] and finally in {{Escyr|1975}} with "Ding-a-Dong" performed by the group Teach-In.^[5] Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004 contest, the Netherlands had featured in five finals. The Dutch least successful result has been last place, which they have achieved on five occasions, most recently in the second semi-final of the 2011 contest.^[6] The Netherlands has also received nul points on two occasions; in {{Escyr|1962}} and {{Escyr|1963}}.^[7]. In 2017 O'G3NE ended 11th with the song "Lights and Shadows".

The Dutch national broadcaster, AVROTROS, broadcasts the event within the Netherlands and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. The Netherlands has used various methods to select the Dutch entry in the past, such as the Nationaal Songfestival, a live televised national final to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. However, internal selections have also been held on occasion. Since 2013, the broadcaster has internally selected the Dutch entry for the contest. In 2013, the internal selection of Anouk performing "Birds" managed to take the country to the final for the first time in eight years and placed ninth overall. In 2014, the internal selection of The Common Linnets performing the song "Calm After the Storm" qualified the nation to the final once again and placed second, making it the most successful Dutch result in the contest since their victory in 1975. For 2018, the broadcaster opted to continue selecting the Dutch entry through an internal selection.^[8]

Before Eurovision

Internal selection

On 9 November 2017, AVROTROS announced Waylon as the Dutch entrant at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. Waylon had previously represented the Netherlands in 2014 as part of The Common Linnets alongside Ilse DeLange. Their song "Calm After the Storm" earned 238 points in the final, placing them second.^[9]

Prior to the official presentation of the song on 2 March 2018, Waylon presented five songs – including the official Dutch entry for the Eurovision Song Contest – from his upcoming album The World Can Wait on talk show De Wereld Draait Door, hosted by Matthijs van Nieuwkerk and aired on NPO 1.^[10][11] Waylon also revealed that Hans Pannecoucke – who was the stage director for the Netherlands in 2014, 2015 and 2016 – will once again be the stage director for Eurovision.^[12]

At Eurovision

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big 5" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 29 January 2018, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in. Netherlands was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 10 May 2018, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.^[13]

Once all the competing songs for the 2018 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the shows' producers rather than through another draw, so that similar songs were not placed next to each other. Netherlands was set to perform in position 8, following the entry from Moldova and preceding the entry from Australia.^[14]

Semi-final

Voting

Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding two sets of points from 1–8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting. Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results were released shortly after the grand final.

Points awarded to The Netherlands

Split voting results

The following five members comprised the Dutch jury:

• Sharon den Adel – Chairperson – singer
• Arno Krabman – producer, songwriter
• Robert Ester – music and content director
• Rick Vol – composer, writer, manager
• Lesley Joanna van der Aa – singer

Points awarded by The Netherlands

References

• Waulsort
• Waulsort Abbey
• WAUM
• Waumandee (CDP), Wisconsin
• Waumbek Cottages Historic District
• WAUN
• Wauna, Or
• Wauna, Washington
• Waun Claerddu
• WAUN-FM
• Waun Garnedd y Filiast
• Waun Garnedd-y-filiast
• Waun-Gron Park
• Waun-Gron Park station
• Waun Lefrith
• Waun-oer
• Waun rydd
• Waun Rydd
• Waun Wen
• WAUO
• Waupaca County, Wi
• Waupaca (disambiguation)
• Waupaca Electric Light and Railway Company
• Waupaca Foundry
• Waupaca High School