Rotterdam, Maastricht still in the running to host Eurovision Song Competition

The Eurovision Song Competition next year will be held either in Rotterdam or Maastricht. These two cities submitted a substantively stronger bid than Utrecht, Den Bosch and Arnhem, who are no longer in the running to host the event, the selection committee announced, NU.nl reports.

"Both cities have a location where both the TV shows and the entire event can be well organized. In addition, there is sufficient accommodation available in the city and the region, there is a good plan for the many side events and there is willingness to make a substantial (financial) contribution to bear the costs of location (rent, furnishing facilities, security, etc.)," the selection committee said in a press release. 

The committee said that it was impressed by the proposals submitted by the cities. "We are convinced that both Maastricht and Rotterdam would be a fantastic host city where we can welcome people from all over the Netherlands and Europe to celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest," Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer Event of the Eurovision Song Contest, said to NU.nl. 

If Rotterdam wins the bid, the song festival will be organized at Ahoy. If Maastricht wins, the festival will be held at the MECC convention center.

In the coming week, the project organizers will visit both Maastricht and Rotterdam to assess the city, the proposed location, and the associated facilities. The city that will host the 65th Eurovision Song Contest will be announced in August. The Netherlands is organizing the event because Dutch contestant Duncan Laurence won the previous Eurovision Song Competition with his song Arcade. 

Rotterdam is delighted to still be in the running. "That is very good news", Rotterdam alderman Said Kasmi said. "We are in the starting blocks here. We think that Rotterdam is extremely suitable for organizing the song festival."