Performing during the show in position 8, the Netherlands placed twenty-second out of the 25 participating countries, scoring 5 points.

In 1996, NOS has organised Nationaal Songfestival in order to select both the artist and song for the contest.

[10] NOS opened a submission period following the artist announcement where composers were able to submit their songs until 6 December 1996.

[12] The national final took place on 23 February 1997 at the Marcanti Plaza in Amsterdam, hosted by Bart Peeters and Joop van Zijl and was broadcast on TV2.

[15] In addition to the performances of the competing songs, Herman van Molle, Jacques d'Ancona, Lisa Riley, Petra Hoost, and past Dutch Eurovision entrants Corry Brokken (1956, 1957, and 1958), Heddy Lester (1977), Gerard Joling (1988), and Maxine and Franklin Brown (1996) were also present during the show.

[16][17] According to Eurovision rules, the twenty-four countries which had obtained the highest average number of points over the last four contests competed in the final on 3 May 1997.

[19] The Dutch conductor at the contest was Dick Bakker, and the Netherlands finished in twenty-second place with 5 points.