Noord-Holland sympathized with S10 in various places tonight. The singer, who grew up in Abbekerk and Hoorn, qualified for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin. The place in the final battle brings great joy to her grandfather and grandmother from Abbekerk. “We are more than proud.”
Tension rose to great heights during the results of the semi-finals. Because when did ‘The Netherlands’ with the song ‘De Diepte’ now called? S10 had to wait together with the whole of the Netherlands and was only added to the ten finalists as the very last.
Stien den Hollander – stage name S10 – grew up in Abbekerk. The village where her grandfather and grandmother still live. In the local café Het Nieuwe Bonte Paard, grandpa John and grandma Marjan den Hollander watched the semifinals with excitement.
First dinner with about fifteen friends, then gather around the big screen. With tension in the body, waiting for her turn. They saw a convincing performance from their granddaughter, but confirmation in the form of a final spot was a long time in coming.
Cheers!
“Man, I was nervous,” says Grandpa John shortly after the results. “She did a great job, we are more than proud.” The conversation is briefly interrupted because he is offered a drink. “Cheers everyone!”, it sounds cheerfully through the cafe.
Tomorrow the Abbekers will travel to Turin to see their granddaughter shine during the final of the international song festival. †Stientje arranged tickets for us. It’s a sweet girl. We are also at the other semi-final, next Thursday. And of course the final on Saturday. †
Laura Verhart – owner of Het Nieuwe Bonte Paard – remembers S10 from the past. “She used to be a friend of my daughter. I thought it was emotional. The atmosphere, the song. It was very beautiful. The atmosphere in the cafe was also beautiful.”
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S10 was also central on Tuesday evening in café De Kat in the Wijngaert, on the Lindengracht in Amsterdam. Employee Keke Baas is friends with Stien. “We know each other through friends. Last year she filled in during a fieldlab festival on the Lowlands site. When her regular DJ was not available, I was the replacement and we improvised a bit. Since then, we have worked a lot in an app group. Contact.”
normal football
Keke was working in the cafe on Tuesday, but had plenty of time to look. “There are four screens here. Normally we broadcast football on that, now the Song Contest. There were many friends, but also other guests. I am very proud of Stien. I thought it was a beautiful, vulnerable performance. Exactly as I know her. “
Both grandpa and grandma and Keke enjoy a while on Tuesday evening. Keke: “I can’t wait for Saturday.”