First Semi

Claude will be in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday 13 May. The Netherlands will then compete against Sweden and Belgium, among others, for a place in the final, as determined by the draw on Tuesday.

Claude will also face San Marino, Albania and Azerbaijan. Ukraine, Slovenia, Cyprus and Iceland will also hope to secure a place in the final.

Estonia, Poland, Croatia, Norway and Portugal will also be in the first semi-final. This semi-final can be considered slightly more advantageous, as fifteen countries will participate. There will be sixteen participants in the second semi-final. Ten countries from each semi-final will advance to the final on Saturday.

The competition in the first semi-final is fierce: Ukraine has never been eliminated in a semi-final, Sweden (together with Ireland) has won the Song Festival the most times and Belgium is currently in first place with the bookmakers.

This draw also determined that the Netherlands will be seen in the second half of the first semi-final. The exact order of the shows on Tuesday and Thursday will be announced later: the organization will determine this itself.

It is not yet known which song Claude will participate with in Basel. He previously told nu.nl that his song will be bilingual. In the past, the singer wrote songs in French and Dutch, as well as in French and English.

Like every year, five countries are automatically through to the final: Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain pay so much money to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that they are automatically through. Last year’s winner, Switzerland, is also automatically on the main stage. This means that 26 countries will ultimately be in the final.

The above six countries are allowed to vote during the semi-finals. Switzerland, Italy and Spain vote during the first semi-final, Germany, France and the UK in the second semi-final. For the Netherlands, it is therefore important that Italian, Spanish and Swiss fans like Claude’s entry.

The Eurovision Song Contest starts in Basel on Tuesday 13 May with the first semi-final. On Thursday 15 May the festival continues with the second semi-final and on Saturday 17 May the final. Source: nu.nl