Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004

Nationaal Songfestival 2004 was the national final format created by TROS and NOS in order to select the Netherlands’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.

The format of the competition consisted of six shows: four semi-finals, a Second Chance round and a final. All shows were held at the Pepsi Stage Theatre in Amsterdam and were hosted by Nance and Humberto Tan. The four semi-finals, held between 22 January 2004, each featured six competing entries from which two advanced to the final from each show, with the Second Chance round being held on 19 February 2004.

Results during the semi-finals and the final were determined by the votes from a jury panel (which included Ruth Jacott who represented the Netherlands in 1993 contest with the song "Vrede") and votes from the public via SMS and televoting. In the semi-finals, the song placed first by the jury and that placed first by televoting directly qualified for the final. In the event that both the jury and the televoters placed the same song first, the song placed second in the televote will qualify for the final. From the semi-finals, six of the losing songs (three chosen by televoting and two by the jury) then competed in the Second Chance round, with another two songs qualifying for the final (one chosen by the jury and one chosen by televoting). In the final, the winner was selected by a combination of the votes of the jury (50%) and televoting (50%).

Artists and composers were able to submit their entries to NOS from 17 July 2003 until 1 November 2003.[1] From all 475 songs submitted, a selection committee selected 24 songs for the competition.[2]

The first semi-final took place on 22 January 2004. Two entries qualified to the final, with the song placed first by the jury and that placed first by televoting qualifying for the final. As both the jury and the televoters placed the same song first, the song placed second in the televote qualified for the final.[3]

The second semi-final took place on 29 January 2004. Two entries qualified to the final, with the song placed first by the jury and that placed first by televoting qualifying for the final.[3]

The third semi-final took place on 5 February 2004. Two entries qualified to the final, with the song placed first by the jury and that placed first by televoting qualifying for the final.[3]

The fourth semi-final took place on 12 February 2004. Two entries qualified to the final, with the song placed first by the jury and that placed first by televoting qualifying for the final.[3]

The Second Chance round took place on 19 February 2004, where six of the losing songs from the four semi-finals (Arno Kolenbrander, Bas & Joël and Voice Male, André Kuik and Camp Girls were chosen by televoting, while Charly and Mandy were chosen by the jury) competed. An additional two songs qualified for the final (the song placed first by the jury and that placed first by televoting).[3]

The final was held on 22 February 2004. The ten entries which qualified from the preceding semi-finals and the Second Chance round competed during the show. The winner was selected by a combination of the votes of a jury panel (50%) and televoting (50%).[4]