# Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959

Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 with the song "Hou toch van mij", composed by Hans Flower, with lyrics by Ke Riema, and performed by Bob Benny. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Nationaal Instituut voor de Radio-omroep (NIR), selected its entry through a national final.

## Before Eurovision
### Grote Eurovisie Prijs van het Europese Lied

Grote Eurovisie Prijs van het Europese Lied was the national final format developed by Flemish broadcaster Nationaal Instituut voor de Radio-omroep (NIR) in order to select the Belgian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1959. Eighteen entries competed in the competition that consisted of two semi-finals held on 1 and 8 February 1959 leading to a two-song final on 15 February 1959. All three shows were hosted by Jan Theys.

#### Format

The format of the competition consisted of three shows: two semi-finals on 1 and 8 February 1959 and the final on 15 February 1959. Each semi-final featured nine competing entries from which one advanced from each show to complete the two song lineup in the final. Results during both semi-finals and final were determined by "expert" jury.

#### Competing entries

Nine composers were approached by NIR to create the songs for the contest. Each composer wrote two songs for the contest. Then, NIR selected performers for the songs. The selected composers were: Jef Trappeniers, Johnny Steggerda, Jef Van den Berg [nl], Jack Say, Pieter Leemans, Armand Preud'homme, Hans Flower [nl], Louis Marischal [nl], and Jack Sels. It is unknown why "Alles is nu voorbij" was submitted twice.
Competing entries :
| Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Songwriter(s) |
| Artist | Song | Composer | Lyricist |
| Al Verlane | "Alles is nu voorbij" | Pieter Leemans | Eric Franssen |
| Al Verlane | "In d'eenzaamheid" | Jack Say | Eric Franssen |
| Bob Benny | "Hou toch van mij" | Hans Flower [nl] | Ke Riema [nl] |
| Bob Benny | "Riviera-riviera" | Hans Flower [nl] | Jan Marcken |
| Enny Denita [nl] | "Zingeling" | Louis Marischal [nl] | Louis Baret [nl] |
| Enny Denita [nl] | "Zoals heerlijk als nu (zoals nu)" | Louis Marischal [nl] | Unknown |
| Frieda Linzi [nl] | "Weekend melodie" | Armand Preud'homme | A. Franck |
| Eric Franssen | "Liefde" | Jef Van den Berg [nl] | Marc de Corte |
| Eric Franssen | "Twee harten, één gedachte (amore...)" | Jack Say | Eric Franssen |
| Jean Walter | "Alles is nu voorbij" | Pieter Leemans | Eric Franssen |
| Jean Walter | "Als ik je verlaat" | Armand Preud'homme | Custers |
| Jean Walter | "Mijn liedje is uit" | Jef Van den Berg [nl] | Marc de Corte |
| Jo Leemans | "Levenssymphonie" | Jef Trappeniers | Jacques Mollé |
| Jo Leemans | "Wij moeten dankbaar zijn" | Johnny Steggerda | Johnny Steggerda |
| Rina Pia [nl] | "De klokkentoren" | Johnny Steggerda, Jo Dente | Johnny Steggerda, Jo Dente |
| Rina Pia [nl] | "Een wiegje in witte satijn" | Jef Trappeniers | Luc Verbist |
| Terry Lester | "Eens in het leven" | Jack Sels | Unknown |
| Terry Lester | "Voor u alleen" | Jack Sels | Unknown |

#### Semi-final 1

The first semi-final took place on 1 February 1959 at the Funkis Cinema in Herentals.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Al Verlane | "Alles is nu voorbij" | 0 | 5= |
| 2 | Rina Pia [nl] | "De klokkentoren" | 0 | 5= |
| 3 | Eric Franssen | "Twee harten, één gedachte (amore...)" | 0 | 5= |
| 4 | Bob Benny | "Riviera-riviera" | 1 | 3= |
| 5 | Jo Leemans | "Levenssymphonie" | 5 | 1 |
| 6 | Enny Denita [nl] | "Zoals heerlijk als nu (zoals nu)" | 1 | 3= |
| 7 | Jean Walter | "Mijn liedje is uit" | 0 | 5= |
| 8 | Jean Walter | "Als ik je verlaat" | 2 | 2 |
| 9 | Terry Lester | "Voor u alleen" | 0 | 5= |

#### Semi-final 2

The second semi-final took place on 8 February 1959 at the Apollo in Antwerp.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Enny Denita [nl] | "Zingeling" | 0 | 6= |
| 2 | Bob Benny | "Hou toch van mij" | 4 | 1 |
| 3 | Jo Leemans | "Wij moeten dankbaar zijn" | 0 | 6= |
| 4 | Al Verlane | "In d'eenzaamheid" | 0 | 6= |
| 5 | Terry Lester | "Eens in het leven" | 0 | 6= |
| 6 | Frieda Linzi [nl] | "Weekend melodie" | 1 | 2= |
| 7 | Eric Franssen | "Liefde" | 1 | 2= |
| 8 | Jean Walter | "Alles is nu voorbij" | 1 | 2= |
| 9 | Rina Pia [nl] | "Een wiegje in witte satijn" | 1 | 2= |

#### Final

The final was held on 15 February 1959 at 21:25 CET as part of NIR's TV show Show Band Show at the Cultural and Artistic Center in Uccle and hosted by Jan Theys. The song "Hou toch van mij" written by Ke Riema, composed by Hans Flower and performed by Bob Benny, was selected as the winner of selection by an "expert" jury.
| Draw | Artist(s) | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Jo Leemans | "Levenssymphonie" | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Bob Benny | "Hou toch van mij" | 11 | 1 |

#### Artist selection

An article by Brugsch Handelsblad [nl] suggests that there might have been no guarantee that the artist who performed the winning song in the national final would be the same artist to perform the song at the Eurovision Song Contest. The article says that Jo Leemans and Jean Walter had put themselves forward to sing the song and that Bob Benny had little chance of going to the Eurovision Song Contest, although he was eventually selected.

## At Eurovision

On the night of the final Bob Benny performed last in the running order, following the United Kingdom. Voting was by 10-member national juries with each member awarding 1 point to his/her favourite song. At the close of the voting "Hou Toch Van Mij" had received 9 points (3 from Germany, 2 from Denmark and the United Kingdom and 1 from Monaco and the Netherlands), placing Belgium joint 6th (with Italy) of the 11 entries.