The 30th edition of the COC Songfestival, taking place on October 24th, will be hosted by Dolly Bellefleur, a prominent figure in the Dutch LGBTQ+ community for nearly four decades. The anniversary event will see participants from across the country compete for the coveted trophy at the Haventheater in IJmuiden.
Dolly Bellefleur, the alter ego of cabaret artist and activist Ruud Douma since 1989, has long been a voice for human rights and LGBTQ+ acceptance in the Netherlands. Her work combines performance with steadfast activism, a role she has maintained for 37 years.
Her contributions have been formally recognized on multiple occasions. In 2014, she received the Andreaspenning from the city of Amsterdam, followed by the Bob Angelo Penning from COC Nederland in 2020. In 2021, Ruud Douma was appointed a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau for his long-standing commitment to the community.
Bellefleur's connection to the song contest format is well-established. Since 2014, she has created Dutch-language versions of the Netherlands' Eurovision entries, a project born from a love for the Dutch language and nostalgia for the era when countries sang in their native tongues. This is also a return to a familiar role; she previously hosted the COC Songfestival back in 2004.
Event and Ticket Information
The festival brings together acts from regional COC associations for a night of music and community. Details for attendees are as follows:
- Date: Thursday, 24 October
- Location: Haventheater, IJmuiden
- Tickets: €24.50 for general admission and €19.50 for COC members. A service fee of €3.25 applies per booking. Tickets include cloakroom service and a drink during the interval.
- Afterparty: An afterparty will be held in IJmuiden following the event, starting around 23:00.
Tickets are available for purchase directly from the Haventheater website. Further information about the event can be found on the official COC Songfestival website.
