From its founding in 1945 by Dolf van der Linden until becoming an independent organisation in 2013, the Metropole Orkest was the musical heart of Dutch public broadcasting. Throughout those decades, the orchestra played a defining role in countless major events, including the National and Eurovision Songfestival. That came to an end in 1998, when the switch to backing tracks became permanent, following the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to remove the live orchestra from the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Metropole Orkest served as the house orchestra for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958, 1970, 1976, and 1980. Four editions in which the Netherlands hosted the contest and the Metropole Orkest provided the music.
and contribute to educational projects and the preservation of Dutch heritage.
