Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959

Eurovision Song Contest 1959
Participating broadcasterNederlandse Televisie Stichting (NTS)
Country Netherlands
National selection
Selection processNationaal Songfestival 1959
Selection date(s)17 February 1959
Selected artist(s)Teddy Scholten
Selected song"Een beetje"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Final result1st, 21 points
Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1958 • 1959 • 1960►

The Netherlands was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 with the song "Een beetje", composed by Dick Schallies, with lyrics by Willy van Hemert, and performed by Teddy Scholten. The Dutch participating Broadcaster, Nederlandse Televisie Stichting (NTS), selected its entry through a national final. The entry eventually won the Eurovision Song Contest, making the Netherlands the first country to achieve two victories in the contest.

At the Dutch national final, held on 17 February, song and performer were chosen independently of each other. The 1957 contest winner Corry Brokken failed in her bid to represent the Netherlands for a fourth consecutive year, while future Dutch representative Greetje Kauffeld was also among those taking part.

Before Eurovision

Nationaal Songfestival 1959

Nederlandse Televisie Stichting (NTS) held the national final at the AVRO Studios in Hilversum, hosted by Karin Kraaykamp. Eight songs and seven singers were involved, with all songs presented twice by different performers, once with a full orchestra and once in a more pared-down style.

The winning song was chosen by votes from regional juries, then an "expert" jury decided which of the two performers and versions of the winning song should go to Cannes. After "Een beetje" was announced the winner, the expert jury chose Scholten with the full orchestra version of the song. [1]

Song selection – 17 February 1959
Draw Artist Song Points Place
1 Corry Brokken & Bruce Low "Mijn hart en ik" 110 3
2 Greetje Kauffeld & John de Mol
3 Greetje Kauffeld "Als ik denk aan geluk" 38 7
4 Dick Doorn
5 Tonny van Hulst "Kleine zilv'ren ster" 35 8
6 Corry Brokken
7 John de Mol "Op het plein" 48 5
8 Greetje Kauffeld
9 Corry Brokken "Iedere dag met jou" 43 6
10 Bruce Low
11 Dick Doorn "De regen" 148 2
12 Teddy Scholten
13 Bruce Low "Angelina" 53 4
14 Tonny van Hulst
15 Teddy Scholten "Een beetje" 235 1
16 John de Mol
Artist selection – 17 February 1959
Artist Result
Teddy Scholten Selected
John de Mol Eliminated

At Eurovision

On the evening of the final Scholten performed 5th in the running order, following Monaco and preceding Germany. At the close of voting "Een beetje" had received 21 points, winning the contest by a 5-point margin over runners-up the United Kingdom. The Netherlands thus became the first country to win Eurovision twice.[2]

The Dutch conductor at the contest was Dolf van der Linden.

Rumours after the contest suggested that the Italian jury had awarded a very high 7 points to "Een beetje" in order to reduce the chances of a French or British win, but these were never substantiated.

Voting

Every participating broadcaster assembled a jury panel of ten people. Every jury member could give one point to his or her favourite song.

References

  1. ^ "Nationaal Archief". nationaalarchief.nl. hdl:10648/a98df16a-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. ^ ESC History - Netherlands 1959
  3. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Cannes 1959". Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.