Today we received the sad news that Dries Holten passed away on April 15. Dries is better known as Andres, who achieved great fame as half of the duo Sandra & Andres. The duo got together in 1966 and sang together until 1975. After that Andres continued as half of the duo Rosy & Andres, and in the early eighties with Debbie & Andres. In 1969 Andres also had a solo hit in the Netherlands, “Zij is verliefd op een frikandel”.
In 1972 Sandra & Andres participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for the Netherlands and reached fourth place. Four years later, Rosy & Andres also took part in the national final with the song “I was born to love”. The duo did not win.
Eurovision 2026
Vienna 2026: Hosts revealed
📷 Thomas Ramstorfer/ORF Vienna 2026 hosts Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski have been officially announced by Austrian broadcaster ORF as the presenters of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. Both hosts are prominent Austrian personalities. They bring a blend of glamour and experience to the contest’s stage. Below, we explore their backgrounds, careers, and connections to Austria, as well as their past hosting experience, to understand what they will bring to Eurovision 2026. Victoria Swarovski: Austrian TV Star and Entrepreneur Victoria Swarovski, 30, hails from Innsbruck in Tyrol, Austria. She has built a multifaceted career as a television presenter, entrepreneur, model, and designer. Swarovski first gained wide attention after winning the German dance competition Let’s Dance in 2016. That was a victory that marked a turning point in her public career. In 2018, she returned to Let’s Dance as one of its hosts. With this, she proved her prowess in front of the camera as a presenter. Beyond television, Victoria Swarovski has expanded into business and fashion. In 2020 she launched her own beauty brand, ORIMEI. Her work also includes modeling and design, underscoring her versatility in the entertainment industry. As one of the Vienna 2026 hosts, Swarovski’s combination of on-stage confidence and business savvy represents the modern, dynamic face of Austria on the Eurovision stage. Michael Ostrowski: Acclaimed Actor and Presenter Michael Ostrowski, Fifty, is an acclaimed actor, writer, and presenter from Leoben in Styria, Austria. He achieved his professional breakthrough in 2004 with a hit comedy film and has since become a recognisable figure in Austrian film and television. Known for his comic timing and charm, Ostrowski has enjoyed a long-running screen career spanning both acting and filmmaking. Importantly for his Eurovision role, Michael Ostrowski also has extensive hosting experience. He has fronted major Austrian TV events, including the gala 100 Years of Radio, for which he earned a prestigious Romy award (Austria’s top television honor) as Best Presenter. His background in live entertainment and event hosting equips him well to engage the massive international audience of Eurovision. As one of the Vienna 2026 hosts, Ostrowski brings seasoned stage presence and a touch of humor to the proceedings. The Vienna 2026 Hosts on Eurovision’s Stage Together, the Vienna 2026 hosts Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski exemplify Austrian talent and showmanship on the Eurovision stage. This duo has been praised by ORF as “an exciting and unique pair” with great passion for the contest. Their combined skills—Swarovski’s live TV polish and Ostrowski’s comedic flair—promise a balanced hosting team capable of guiding viewers through the semi-finals and grand final with professionalism and Austrian warmth. Eurovision fans can look forward to a memorable show in May 2026 as this hosting pair leads the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. source: eurovision.com
January 29, 2026
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