The 1957 Eurovision Song Contest introduced key rule changes—single-song entries and public scoreboards—that shaped the contest's modern format.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 2nd Eurovision Song Contest
- Date
- 3 March 1957
- Participating countries
- 10
- Winner
- Netherlands — "Net als toen" by Corry Brokken
- First-time participants
- Austria, Denmark, United Kingdom
- Host broadcaster
- Hessischer Rundfunk (HR) / ARD
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, the European Broadcasting Union sought to refine the competition's structure. Concerns about the fairness and transparency of voting, as well as inconsistencies in how countries were represented, prompted organizers to revise the rules before the 1957 edition.
The second Eurovision Song Contest was held on 3 March 1957 at the Großer Sendesaal des Hessischen Rundfunks in Frankfurt, West Germany, hosted by Anaid Iplicjian. Ten countries competed, each now limited to one song. The Netherlands won with Corry Brokken performing "Net als toen," while France, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Germany completed the top five.
The rule changes introduced in 1957—single-song representation per country, a public scoreboard, and a ban on jurors voting for their own country—became enduring features of the contest. The Netherlands' victory was the first of five Dutch wins in Eurovision history, and Corry Brokken's success established her as a notable figure in the contest's early years.
Work
Eurovision Song Contest 1957
The 1957 contest established lasting procedural norms for Eurovision, including one song per country and transparent public voting, which shaped all subsequent editions of the contest.