In a villa in Hilversum full of cameras, microphones and nerves, the thirteen finalists of the Regional Song Contest were introduced to each other on Wednesday. Including singer Rosa Spruit who will represent us as Brabant on November 1 during the final in Arnhem. But who exactly are its competitors? We introduce the finalists to you.
Omroep Brabant
Rosa Spruit is going to the Regional Song Contest for Omroep Brabant this year. She will perform her number during the final ‘No Words On Paper’ to perform. The Eindhoven native grew up in a musical family where everyone can play an instrument. As a child, her father gave her a bright pink glitter guitar. This started her love for music.
The singer wrote the song during a difficult period in her relationship. “I wrote it out of fear of losing someone I love, but it is actually about loss in the broadest sense of the word,” Rosa explains. “It can be about a relationship that has ended, but also about a loved one who has passed away. You can also miss someone while they are still there.”
Broadcasting Zeeland
Tarzan & the Beachwaiters will represent Zeeland at the Regional Song Contest with their song ‘Outside legs’. Three lifeguards from Walcheren bring the ultimate beach experience to life on stage. The song is about, you guessed it, misfits. “It is an ode to everyone who does not feel completely out of place within society,” says singer Sebastiaan.
RTV Drenthe
Although the brothers were born and raised in Rouveen, just on the other side of the provincial border, they will represent Drenthe. With their song ‘Olde Jetta’ brothers Jaap and Alfred Roo won the RTV Drenthe competition ‘Songfestival Drenthe, Pop in ‘t plat’. The song is about a holiday from 25 years ago. The ride in the old Volkswagen Jetta is described, as is the holiday feeling. “Then we went to Terschelling with the family and that was simply beautiful,” says one of the brothers.
RTV North
Jeroen Russchen and Iwan Esajas perform the song ‘Everything Gold’ a shot at victory on behalf of the province of Groningen. The song alternates between Groningen and Dutch. It’s a positive one track with a swinging one vibe. Iwan and Jeroen have been making music for years. They used to form the duo ‘US’ together and they are coming back especially for this occasion, the Regional Song Contest.
Omroep Gelderland
This year’s host broadcaster, Omroep Gelderland, is represented by the Achterhoek dialect rock band De Droadneagels with the song ‘Kandatannogandesdan’ Said in Dutch: Can it be done differently? What started as a spontaneous invitation from the broadcaster grew into a musical manifesto for the four friends from Zelhem. “It is a response to the political situation in the Netherlands and actually summarizes everything we see and hear in the media,” says the lead singer.
Broadcasting Flevoland
23-year-old Luca Ferron from Lelystad represents the province of Flevoland. The novice artist hopes with the party song ‘Tomorrow I will regret’ to turn the room upside down and take home the win. “I really enjoy a party and I also present myself as a kind of party animal in my music,” he says. Ferron himself can be found on one stage or another every weekend, but he admits that as a novice artist it is difficult to really make a living from it.
Regional Eurovision Song Contest
Some explanation about the Regional Song Contest, because what exactly is it? The Regional Song Contest is an annual event in which regional broadcasters put their musical talents in the spotlight. Each province delegates an artist who performs a self-written Dutch song. The festival can be compared to the Eurovision Song Contest, but then the thirteen regional broadcasters of the Netherlands compete against each other.
Each artist will sing his or her song during the final and then the public and the juries of each broadcaster can vote. These votes are converted into points with a maximum of twelve points, the well-known ‘douze points‘. The broadcaster that has received the most points at the end of the evening is the winner of the Regional Song Contest.
This year the final is organized by Omroep Gelderland. Emma Luca from Gelderland won the Regional Song Contest in 2024 and ensured that the battle for victory will take place on November 1 in the Musis Theater in Arnhem.
L1
The group Fourtune will represent the Limburg broadcaster L1 with their song ‘Lucky Day’. The group consists of Tim Stoter, Jip Verdellen, Eva Custers and William Daelemans. They characterize the group’s music as electronic Nederpop with a retro twist vibe and a soft G. Danceable beats, warm synths and four-part vocals make for a fresh, recognizable song sound that feels both nostalgic and modern.
Broadcasting West
The trio Diewieler will go to the Regional Song Contest for Omroep West. In Arnhem the group will try to ‘douze points‘ to get in with their number ‘Success?’. The song is about how complicated love is. “Sometimes at the beginning of a relationship you can think: this is it! But then later it turns out not to be the case,” one of the band members explains. That is why there is a question mark at the end of the title.
RTV East
The Poelepetaten group represents Overijssel. The broadcaster’s professional jury chose the band from the five finalists that also received the most votes from the audience in Overijssel. The farmer’s rock band became known with covers, but is now taking a different path. Their new album SOS only has their own songs, such as the relatively quiet song ‘As Said’ that they play during the final.
RTV Utrecht
The province of Utrecht is represented by singer songwriter Dyde. In her number ‘Never mind’ she sings about a relationship that is undermined by jealousy with Utrecht as a backdrop and as a beacon. “It’s about how love can collide with uncertainty. And yes, I couldn’t resist including the Cathedral and the canal,” she says.
Rijnmond
Singer FLORA takes her number ‘In the Red’ participates in the Regional Song Contest on behalf of Rijnmond. She calls her music ‘chaotic’, but if she has to put a genre on it: alt-pop. “I don’t tie myself to one genre. This is what I created singer songwriter pop, but it always remains pop.” According to her, her previous songs were sometimes hard and full of anger. “Thanks to therapy and songwriting, that has changed,” says the singer.
Omrop Friesland
Anke Stilma represents Fryslân at the Regional Song Contest. Anke managed to collect the most votes of three artists who wanted to represent the province in Arnhem. Her number ‘Wêrom’ is about how she felt when she was in a depression.
NH
Singing plasterer Kelsey Verbrugge goes to Arnhem for North Holland. His singing career started six years ago when he took the microphone ‘as a joke’ at his brother’s birthday, the rest is history for the Hoofddorp native. Today he can be booked as a folk singer. With his love song ‘I am at home with you’ he hopes to win the final.