Belgium has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 65 times since making its debut as one of seven countries at the first contest in 1956. The only countries with more appearances are Germany (67), France (66) and the United Kingdom (66). Belgium have been absent only three times in total, in 1994, 1997, and 2001, due to low scores in the previous contests that relegated them from the contest. Belgium has won the contest once, in 1986.
| Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest | |
|---|---|
| |
| Participating broadcaster | Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française (RTBF; 1978–present) Formerly
Formerly
|
| Participation summary | |
| Appearances | 65 (55 finals) |
| First appearance | 1956 |
| Highest placement | 1st: 1986 |
| Host | 1987 |
| External links | |
Belgium's page at Eurovision.tv  | |
 For the most recent participation seeBelgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 | |
In the first 20 years of the contest, Belgium's best result was a fourth place with "Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel" performed by Tonia in 1966. In 1978, "L'amour ça fait chanter la vie" by Jean Vallée achieved Belgium's first top three placement, when it was second. "J'aime la vie" became the first and to date only win for Belgium in 1986, performed by a 13-year-old Sandra Kim. Belgium's only other top three result came in 2003, when "Sanomi" by Urban Trad finished second, losing out by only two points. Belgium has finished last in the contest eight times, most recently in 2000, and has twice received nul points, in 1962 and 1965.
After the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Belgium failed to reach the final for five consecutive years (2005–09). Since 2010, Belgium has become more successful, qualifying for the final in eight out of 14 contests and placing in the top ten five times, with "Me and My Guitar" by Tom Dice (sixth in 2010), "Rhythm Inside" by Loïc Nottet (fourth in 2015), "What's the Pressure" by Laura Tesoro (tenth in 2016), "City Lights" by Blanche (fourth in 2017), and "Because of You" by Gustaph (seventh in 2023).
Participation
Belgium is a federal country divided into two major linguistic regions: Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north and French-speaking Wallonia in the south, each region having its own broadcaster: Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT)[a] in Flanders and Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française (RTBF)[b] in Wallonia. Both broadcasters are full members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. As only one entrant per country is allowed in the contest in any given year, they take turns in participate representing Belgium. Since 2021, Flemish VRT has been in charge on odd years while Walloon RTBF has been in charge on even years, with both broadcasters sharing the broadcasting rights.
Contest history
Belgium has participated in Eurovision since the very first contest in 1956, however Tonia's fourth place at the 1966 contest remained the country's most notable achievement until Jean Vallée placed second in 1978. In the 80s, following good results for Stella (fourth in 1982) and Jacques Zegers (fifth in 1984), Belgium finished last for the sixth time in 1985. This was followed by Belgium's first and (as of 2023[update]) only Eurovision victory in 1986, when Sandra Kim won with her song "J'aime la vie". Although the lyrics claimed she was 15 years old, she was actually only 13 which prompted runner-up Switzerland to petition for her disqualification, to no avail.[c] By winning in 1986, Belgium became the last of the seven Eurovision founding countries to win the contest, as Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Italy and Germany all had won at least once before. Belgium scored an absolute record at the time, with Kim earning a never-seen-before number of 176 points (that record remained until 1993, with Ireland scoring 187 points). With an average of 9.26 points per voting nation and 77.2% of the maximum possible score, as of 2022[update], Kim's record still ranks eighth among all Eurovision winners.
Belgium finished last for the seventh time at the 1993 contest, before achieving its only top ten result of the 90s decade at the 1998 contest, where Mélanie Cohl finished sixth. In the 2000s, Belgium experienced mixed fortunes: the country started the decade by finishing last for the eighth and (as of 2022[update]) final time at the 2000 contest in Stockholm, before achieving its best result of the 21st century in 2003 when Urban Trad sang in an imaginary language and earned second place with 165 points, losing out to Turkey's Sertab Erener by just two points. The country then failed to qualify from the semi-finals for 5 consecutive contests from 2005 to 2009.
The 2010 entry for Belgium was Tom Dice, runner-up of the Belgian Flemish version of The X Factor in 2008. Dice finished first in his semi-final, allowing Belgium to participate in the final for the first time since 2004 and eventually finishing sixth overall, Belgium's best result since 2003 and the best result ever for a Flemish entrant (tied with 1959).[1] Belgium then experienced a mix of ups and downs for the remainder of the 2010s: while the country failed to qualify for the final on five occasions (in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2019), Belgium qualified in 2013 (with Roberto Bellarosa placing 12th) before scoring a three-year streak in the top ten, thanks to Loïc Nottet (fourth in 2015), Laura Tesoro (tenth in 2016) and Blanche (fourth in 2017). Following two non-qualifications with Sennek (2018) and Eliot (2019), Belgium recorded three consecutive qualifications with Hooverphonic (2021), Jérémie Makiese (2022) and Gustaph (2023), the latter finishing in seventh place overall.
Disparity between broadcasters
There has been a significant difference in the results achieved by the Belgian participant broadcasters.[2] The Walloon broadcasters recorded Belgium's only win in 1986, all of Belgium's ten top-five placements, and 18 out of Belgium's 26 top ten placements. On the other hand, the Flemish broadcasters have placed in the top ten eight times, while scoring six out of Belgium's eight last-place finishes.[2] In the 1990s, the relegation rule was introduced, where the lowest-placing countries would not be allowed to compete the following year, to accommodate for the growing number of participating countries. Belgium was relegated three times, in 1994, 1997, and 2001; twice following a poor placing by a Flemish BRTN act the previous year, and once after Walloon RTBF act, "Envie de vivre" by Nathalie Sorce, placed last in 2000.[2]
Since the introduction of semi-finals in 2004, the broadcasters have scored similarly in terms of qualification: as of 2024[update], RTBF and VRT each qualified four times out of ten and nine semi-finals respectively.[3]
Participation overview
| 1 | First place |
| 2 | Second place |
| 3 | Third place |
| ◁ | Last place |
| X | Entry selected but did not compete |
| † | Upcoming event |
Hostings
| Year | Location | Venue | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Brussels | Centenary Palace | Viktor Lazlo |
Awards
Barbara Dex Award
| Year | Performer | Host city | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Nathalie Sorce |  Stockholm |
Related involvement
Conductors
| Year | Conductor[g] | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Léo Souris | [6] | |
| 1957 |  Willy Berking |
Host conductor | |
| 1958 |  Dolf van der Linden | ||
| 1959 | Francis Bay | ||
| 1960 | Henri Segers | ||
| 1961 | Francis Bay | ||
| 1962 | Henri Segers | ||
| 1963 | Francis Bay | ||
| 1964 | Henri Segers | ||
| 1965 | Gaston Nuyts | ||
| 1966 |  Jean Roderes |
Host conductor | |
| 1967 | Francis Bay | ||
| 1968 | Henri Segers | ||
| 1969 | Francis Bay | ||
| 1970 | Jack Say | [7] | |
| 1971 | Francis Bay | ||
| 1972 | Henri Segers | ||
| 1973 | Francis Bay | ||
| 1974 |  Pierre Chiffre |
||
| 1975 | Francis Bay | ||
| 1976 | Michel Bernholc |
||
| 1977 |  Alyn Ainsworth |
||
| 1978 | Jean Musy |
||
| 1979 | Francis Bay | ||
| 1980 | No conductor | [8] | |
| 1981 | Giuseppe Marchese | ||
| 1982 | Jack Say | ||
| 1983 | Freddy Sunder | ||
| 1984 | Jo Carlier | ||
| 1985 | Curt-Eric Holmquist |
Host conductor | |
| 1986 | Jo Carlier | ||
| 1987 | Freddy Sunder | [h] | |
| 1988 | Daniel Willem | ||
| 1989 | Freddy Sunder | ||
| 1990 | Rony Brack | ||
| 1991 | Roland Verlooven | ||
| 1992 | Frank Fievez | ||
| 1993 | Bert Candries | ||
| 1995 | Alec Mansion | ||
| 1996 | Bob Porter | ||
| 1998 | No conductor |
Commentators and spokespersons
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2019) |
Over the years, commentary for the contest has been provided by several experienced Belgian radio and television presenters, including Jacques Mercier, Luc Appermont, and Paule Herreman. From 1991, André Vermeulen provided the Dutch-language commentary every year except 1996. Jean-Pierre Hautier provided French-language commentary from 1994 to 2012, later dying shortly after the 2012 contest. In 1962, BRT retransmitted the commentary feed from the Dutch broadcaster NTS, possibly for financial reasons.
VRT supplied an additional commentator to join André Vermeulen starting in 1998; between 1999 and 2010, dual commentary was provided by either Bart Peeters or Anja Daems. Peeters provided the commentary during the years when VRT selected the entries, whilst Daems commentated the years in which RTBF selected the entries. Sven Pichal replaced Daems in 2011, whilst Peter Van de Veire replaced Peeters. In 2007, Jean-Louis Lahaye joined Jean-Pierre Hautier as a supplementary commentator for RTBF. After Hautier's death in 2012, Lahaye was joined by Maureen Louys in 2013.
| Year | Flemish commentator | Walloon commentator | Spokesperson | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Commentary via Dutch NTS (Piet de Nuyl Jr.)[9][10] | Commentary via Swiss Broadcasting Corporation[9][11] | No spokesperson | |
| 1957 | Nic Bal | Janine Lambotte | Bert Leysen | |
| 1958 | Arlette Vincent | Paule Herreman | ||
| 1959 | Paule Herreman | Bert Leysen | ||
| 1960 | Georges Désir | Arlette Vincent | ||
| 1961 | Commentary via RTF France | Ward Bogaert | ||
| 1962 | Commentary via NTS the Netherlands | Nicole Védrès | Arlette Vincent | |
| 1963 | Herman Verelst, Denise Maes | Pierre Delhasse | Ward Bogaert | |
| 1964 | Herman Verelst | Paule Herreman | André Hagon | |
| 1965 | Ward Bogaert | |||
| 1966 | André Hagon | |||
| 1967 | Ward Bogaert | |||
| 1968 | André Hagon | |||
| 1969 | Jan Theys | Ward Bogaert | ||
| 1970 | André Hagon | |||
| 1971 | Herman Verelst | No spokesperson | ||
| 1972 | ||||
| 1973 | ||||
| 1974 | Georges Désir | André Hagon | ||
| 1975 | Jan Theys | Paule Herreman | Ward Bogaert | |
| 1976 | Luc Appermont | Georges Désir | André Hagon | |
| 1977 | Patrick Duhamel | An Ploegaerts | ||
| 1978 | Claude Delacroix | André Hagon | ||
| 1979 | Paule Herreman | An Ploegaerts | ||
| 1980 | Jacques Mercier | Jacques Olivier | ||
| 1981 | Walter De Meyere | |||
| 1982 | Jacques Olivier | |||
| 1983 | An Ploegaerts | |||
| 1984 | Jacques Olivier | |||
| 1985 | An Ploegaerts | |||
| 1986 | Patrick Duhamel | Jacques Olivier | ||
| 1987 | Claude Delacroix | An Ploegaerts | ||
| 1988 | Pierre Collard-Bovy | Jacques Olivier | ||
| 1989 | Jacques Mercier | An Ploegaerts | ||
| 1990 | Claude Delacroix | Jacques Olivier | ||
| 1991 | André Vermeulen | An Ploegaerts | ||
| 1992 | Jacques Olivier | |||
| 1993 | An Ploegaerts | |||
| 1994 | Jean-Pierre Hautier | Did not participate | ||
| 1995 | Marie-Françoise Renson "Soda" | |||
| 1996 | Michel Follet, Johan Verstreken | Jean-Pierre Hautier, Sandra Kim | An Ploegaerts | |
| 1997 | André Vermeulen | Jean-Pierre Hautier | Did not participate | |
| 1998 | André Vermeulen, Andrea Croonenberghs | Marie-Hélène Vanderborght | ||
| 1999 | André Vermeulen, Bart Peeters | Sabine De Vos | ||
| 2000 | André Vermeulen, Anja Daems | Thomas Van Hamme | ||
| 2001 | Did not participate | |||
| 2002 | André Vermeulen, Bart Peeters | Geena Lisa | ||
| 2003 | André Vermeulen, Anja Daems | Corinne Boulangier | ||
| 2004 | André Vermeulen, Bart Peeters | Martine Prenen | ||
| 2005 | André Vermeulen, Anja Daems | Armelle Gysen | ||
| 2006 | André Vermeulen, Bart Peeters | Yasmine | ||
| 2007 | André Vermeulen, Anja Daems | Jean-Pierre Hautier, Jean-Louis Lahaye | Maureen Louys | |
| 2008 | André Vermeulen, Bart Peeters | Sandrine Van Handenhoven | ||
| 2009 | André Vermeulen, Anja Daems | Maureen Louys | ||
| 2010 | André Vermeulen, Bart Peeters | Katja Retsin | ||
| 2011 | André Vermeulen, Sven Pichal | Maureen Louys | ||
| 2012 | André Vermeulen, Peter Van de Veire | Peter Van de Veire | ||
| 2013 | André Vermeulen, Tom De Cock | Maureen Louys, Jean-Louis Lahaye | Barbara Louys | |
| 2014 | Peter Van de Veire, Eva Daeleman | Angelique Vlieghe | ||
| 2015 | Walid | |||
| 2016 | Peter Van de Veire | Umesh Vangaver | ||
| 2017 | Fanny Gillard | |||
| 2018 | Danira Boukhriss | |||
| 2019 | David Jeanmotte | |||
| 2021 | Fanny Jandrain, Jean-Louis Lahaye | Danira Boukhriss | ||
| 2022 | Maureen Louys, Jean-Louis Lahaye | David Jeanmotte | ||
| 2023 | Bart Cannaerts | |||
| 2024 | Livia Dushkoff |
Photo gallery
Roberto Bellarosa performing "Love Kills" in Malmö (2013)
Axel Hirsoux performing "Mother" in Copenhagen (2014)
Laura Tesoro performing "What's the Pressure" in Stockholm (2016)
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See also
- Belgium in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest – Junior version of the Eurovision Song Contest.
- Belgium in the Eurovision Young Dancers – A competition organised by the EBU for younger dancers aged between 16 and 21.
- Belgium in the Eurovision Young Musicians – A competition organised by the EBU for musicians aged 18 years and younger.
Notes and references
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