The Netherlands have once again chosen to select their entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 through Internal Selection. AVROTROS, the Dutch broadcaster, received 331 entries, with the selection process involving a committee comprising of singers Jacqueline Govaert and Jaap Reesema, radio DJs Carolien Borgers, Hila Noorzai, and Sander Lantinga, and television host Cornald Maas. Ultimately, the chosen entry for ESC 2025, is Claude, with his song “C’est la vie!”.
Claude, is a 21-year-old Dutch singer-songwriter who was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but moved to the Netherlands at the age of nine. He first encountered the Eurovision Song Contest shortly after his arrival, with his family cheering together as Conchita Wurst won for Austria, a tradition he has continued since.
Claude's musical journey began in 2019 when he participated in the eighth season of "The Voice Kids," although he was eliminated during the battle stage. The following year, he won the casting show "Are You Next?" which led to a contract with the record label Cloud 9. In 2022, he released his debut single, "Ladada (Mon dernier mot)," which reached number one on the Dutch Top 40 for 6 weeks and amassed over 57 million streams. This success earned him several awards, including the 3FM Award for Best Newcomer and Qmusic's Artist of the Year.
Claude's Eurovision entry, "C'est la vie," was co-written with Arno Krabman, Joren van der Voort, and Léon Palmen, who also co-produced the track. Released on February 27, 2025, the song is a dance-pop anthem with lyrics in both French and English. Claude described it as a tribute to his mother, highlighting themes of resilience and optimism: "Even when things seem dark, it’s important to focus on the brighter side. This is the message I aim to convey—life isn’t always easy; it has its ups, downs, and twists, but 'C’est la vie'!"
The reaction to “C’est la vie!” has been overwhelmingly positive, with The Netherlands shooting up in the odds with bookmakers, and are currently (7th March) the 4th favourite to win the trophy in Basel. “C’est la vie” also debuted at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 chart.