In 1961, 1963, 1980, 2007 and 2008, the Dutch entry for the Eurovision Song Contest was not selected through Nationaal Songfestival, but was chosen internally by a special committee.

The 1963 edition of Nationaal Songfestival had been scheduled to take place on 23 January at the Tivoli in Utrecht, but was cancelled due to a strike of the Metropole Orchestra.

Weer het Nationaal Songfestival, was broadcast in which Edsilia Rombley performed three potential Eurovision entries, after which she announced which song she had picked.

In 2010, this format was reversed when the song "Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie)" written by Pierre Kartner was internally selected, and the performer was chosen through Nationaal Songfestival.

Both schlager acts failed to qualify for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest and were subject of heavy criticism in the Netherlands.

[6][7] When asked in the talk show Pauw & Witteman why "acknowledged composers" are no longer involved in writing the "best possible songs" for Nationaal Songfestival, Eric van Tijn, composer of the winning entries "Vrede" (1993) and "Hemel en aarde" (1998), stated that "it is not an honor anymore to take part in [the competition]".

In subsequent years, the internal selection method led the Netherlands to more success, including placing second in 2014, and winning the 2019 contest.

[10][11] In the early years of the competition, Nationaal Songfestival entries used to be entirely in Dutch, even though the Eurovision rules did not dictate any language restrictions until 1966.

The Eurovision Song Contest's language rule was reintroduced in 1977 and abolished once again in 1999, after which the majority of entries at each year's Nationaal Songfestival were performed in English.

[14][15] The 2000 edition marked the first time an entry in West Frisian, "Hjir is it begjin" by Gina de Wit, was selected to take part in the competition.

While many established artists, such as Patricia Paay (1969), Bonnie St. Claire (1970, 1977, 1982), and Gordon (1990, 2003), have participated in Nationaal Songfestival, the competition has also been a stage for new talent.