Joe & Jake sang it at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 and the Netherlands are living by their slogan: “You’re not alone, we’re in this together.” It seems few cities will need to stand alone in their bid to host the contest on Dutch soil next year. The city of Arnhem has decided to team up with neighbouring city Nijmegen for their 2020 bid.
3 July deadline?
Earlier this week, we heard that NPO, NOS, Avrotros and the EBU had opened the City Bid Process in order to determine the host city or region. According to alderman Jan van Dellen, responsible for economics and city marketing in Arnhem, the NPO have set a deadline by which they need to receive the bid book. That deadline is, according to him, 3rd July.
In the weeks after that, the organisers will visit the cities they ‘seriously consider’ for the hosting job. Van Dellen says he hopes to see the EBU at his stadium, the GelreDome. He adds that the final decision will follow at the start of August.
Arnhem’s GelreDome will provide a bidbook largely based around other major events which have taken place at the home base of football club Vitesse. Most of the bid will rely on the suggestions made in order to become the hosts of the World Championships Women’s Volleyball in 2022. They will also use parts of the scenarios for major concerts, such as the one Helene Fischer gave there in September 2018.
Arnhem & Nijmegen: A Veluwe bid
Alderman van Dellen says Arnhem won’t be handling their bid on their own. Their neighbouring city in Nijmegen will be joining them. Van Dellen confirmed he has been in touch with Mayor Bruls of Nijmegen to discuss the details. What this exactly means is not clear yet, but hotel rooms will be part of the deal, we expect.
Arnhem will be bidding on behalf of the entire Veluwe region. The Veluwe is an area full of forests and natural highlights and is a popular destination for local tourists. Jan van Dellen stated he would like the tourist board of the region, Toerisme Veluwe Arnhem Nijmegen, to be involved as well. In the map you see on the left, you can see the locations Arnhem would like to use. Their own city would be home base, with Nijmegen (to the south) presumably as hotel base. The natural region of Veluwe would also play a part in some capacity, perhaps financially first of all.
An update
A lot of news has come in these past couple of days regarding the race to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Of course, Zwolle has already withdraw, but still nine cities remain. From as far up north as Leeuwarden to the deep south of Maastricht and everything inbetween, NPO, Avrotros, NOS and EBU will have options galore. We also expect an announcement regarding the North Brabant bid soon. Either Breda or ‘s-Hertogenbosch will officially bid on behalf of the province
| Location | Venue | Capacity | Notes |
| Amsterdam | Amsterdam RAI Convention & Exhibition Centre | 12.900 | |
| Amsterdam | Ziggo Dome | 17.000 | |
| Amsterdam | Johan Cruijff Arena | ± 60.000 | Has not yet confirmed its availability |
| Rotterdam | Ahoy Rotterdam | 15.818 | |
| Arnhem | GelreDome | 41.000 | Joint bid with Nijmegen and Veluwe region |
| Utrecht | Jaarbeurs | 11.000 | |
| Maastricht | MECC Maastricht – Noordhal | 20.000 | Supported by the province of Limburg |
| ‘s-Hertogenbosch | Brabanthallen | 11.000 | One of the North Brabant options |
| Breda | Breepark | 13.000 | One of the North Brabant options |
| The Hague | Cars Jeans Stadion | 15.000 | Would need a roof |
| The Hague | Malieveld (depending on a tent) | 15.000 | Would need a tent near World Forum |
| Leeuwarden | WTC Expo – Friezenhal | 10.000 | Supported by the province of Fryslân |
| Enschede | Airport Twente | 11.000 |
