Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
| Belgium | |
|---|---|
.svg)
| |
| Participating broadcaster | VRT & RTBF |
| Participation summary | |
| Appearances | 50 |
| First appearance | 1956 |
| Highest placement | 1st, 1986 |
Belgium is a founding member of the Eurovision Song Contest. Since 1956, they participated 50 times and were only absent in 1994, 1997 and 2001 due to a too low score in the year before. Belgium won the contest once. In 1986, Sandra Kim won with her song J'Aime La Vie in Bergen, Norway. Although she sang she was 15 years old, she was actually only 13 and too young, but was allowed to keep her victory. Currently the minimum age for participation is 16 and thus Sandra Kim will remain the youngest winner lest the age limit be lowered. Belgium was the last founding member to win the contest. For this win, the Belgian capital Brussels was the host of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1987. Belgium achieved second place in 1978 and 2003 and was last eight times. In 2003, Urban Trad sang in an invented language earning second place with 165 points, 2 points fewer than Turkey, who won. Ishtar did the same in 2008 but came 17th in the first semi-final and thus did not qualify for the final.
Selection proces
Belgium has a special selection process. There are two broadcasters in Belgium, VRT and RTBF, who choose a candidate in turn. Before 1999, every song was or in Dutch or in French, except for 1977, when they sang in English. Belgium has never participated in their third national language: German.
Contestants
Hostings
| Year | Location | Venue | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 |  Brussels
|
Centenary Palace | Viktor Lazlo |