Duncan Laurence has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the Netherlands with the song “Arcade”.
He scored a total of 492 points, shooting to the top of the ranking.
Gold glitter rained from the roof as his name was called.
The 25-year-old was called up on stage to lift the trophy, handed to him by Netta Barzilai.
He said: “Oh god, this is to music first. Thank you, thank you.”
1/38
Malta’s Michela performs the song “Chameleon” during the Grand Final of the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 on 18 May in Tel Aviv.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
2/38
Jonida Maliqi defends Albania’s position with the song “Ktheju tokës”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
3/38
The Czech Republic’s Lake Malawi performs the song “Friend of a Friend”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
4/38
The duo S!sters represent Germany with the tune “Sister”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
5/38
Russia’s Sergey Lazarev sings the song “Scream” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
6/38
Leonora represents Denmark with the ballad “Love is Forever”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
7/38
San Marino’s Serhat electrifies the crowd with the song “Say Na Na Na”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
8/38
Tamara Todevska represents North Macedonia with the song “Proud”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
9/38
Sweden’s John Lundvik performs the song “Too Late for Love”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
10/38
Slovenia’s Zala Kralj and Gasper Santl sing the tune “Sebi” together during the Grand Final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
11/38
Cyprus’ Tamta performs the song “Replay”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
12/38
Duncan Laurence, representing Netherlands , performs the song “Arcade”.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
13/38
Katerine Duska sings “Better Love” for Greece.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
14/38
Israel’s Kobi Marimi performs the song “Home” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
15/38
Norwegian supergoup KEiiNO represent their country with “Spirit in the Sky”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
16/38
Norwegian supergoup KEiiNO represent their country with “Spirit in the Sky”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
17/38
The UK’s Michael Rice delivers an acclaimed performance of “Bigger than Us”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
18/38
Iceland’s Hatari perform the song “Hatrid mun sigra” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
19/38
Estonia’s Victor Crone performs “Storm” during the Grand Final of the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
20/38
ZENA represents Belarus with the song “Like It”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
21/38
Azerbaijan’s Chingiz performs the song “Truth”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
22/38
Bilal Hassani represents France with the pop tune “Roi” during the Grand Final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
23/38
Mahmood sings the song “Soldi” for Italy.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
24/38
Serbia’s Nevena Bozovic performs the song “Kruna”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
25/38
Luca Hanni performs the song “She Got Me” for Switzerland.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
26/38
Australia’s Kate Miller-Heidke performs the song “Zero Gravity” with a spectacular stage display.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
27/38
Spain’s Miki wraps up the Grand Final with the tune “La Venda”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
28/38
Hosts Assi Azar, Lucy Ayoub, Bar Refaeli and Erez Tall walk on stage for the final.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
29/38
Designer Jean-Paul Gaultier and supermodel Bar Refaeli chat during the final.
Guy Prives/Getty Images
30/38
Serhat, representing San Marino, and Israel’s TV host Assi Azar are pictured together during the evening.
Guy Prives/Getty Images
31/38
Demonstrators protest the Eurovision on the sidelines of the song contest in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
32/38
Demonstrators protest the Eurovision on the sidelines of the song contest in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
33/38
A UK supporter poses in the Eurovision village in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
34/38
This installation is located in the Eurovision village.
Bel Trew
35/38
Crowds gather in the Eurovision village on the sidelines of the contest.
Bel Trew
36/38
Supporters of the Netherlands pose in the Eurovision village.
Bel Trew
37/38
Duncan Laurence, representing The Netherlands, wins the Grand Final of the Eurovision.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
38/38
Duncan Laurence performs “Arcade” after winning the song contest.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
1/38
Malta’s Michela performs the song “Chameleon” during the Grand Final of the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 on 18 May in Tel Aviv.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
2/38
Jonida Maliqi defends Albania’s position with the song “Ktheju tokës”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
3/38
The Czech Republic’s Lake Malawi performs the song “Friend of a Friend”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
4/38
The duo S!sters represent Germany with the tune “Sister”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
5/38
Russia’s Sergey Lazarev sings the song “Scream” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
6/38
Leonora represents Denmark with the ballad “Love is Forever”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
7/38
San Marino’s Serhat electrifies the crowd with the song “Say Na Na Na”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
8/38
Tamara Todevska represents North Macedonia with the song “Proud”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
9/38
Sweden’s John Lundvik performs the song “Too Late for Love”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
10/38
Slovenia’s Zala Kralj and Gasper Santl sing the tune “Sebi” together during the Grand Final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
11/38
Cyprus’ Tamta performs the song “Replay”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
12/38
Duncan Laurence, representing Netherlands , performs the song “Arcade”.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
13/38
Katerine Duska sings “Better Love” for Greece.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
14/38
Israel’s Kobi Marimi performs the song “Home” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
15/38
Norwegian supergoup KEiiNO represent their country with “Spirit in the Sky”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
16/38
Norwegian supergoup KEiiNO represent their country with “Spirit in the Sky”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
17/38
The UK’s Michael Rice delivers an acclaimed performance of “Bigger than Us”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
18/38
Iceland’s Hatari perform the song “Hatrid mun sigra” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
19/38
Estonia’s Victor Crone performs “Storm” during the Grand Final of the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
20/38
ZENA represents Belarus with the song “Like It”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
21/38
Azerbaijan’s Chingiz performs the song “Truth”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
22/38
Bilal Hassani represents France with the pop tune “Roi” during the Grand Final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
23/38
Mahmood sings the song “Soldi” for Italy.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
24/38
Serbia’s Nevena Bozovic performs the song “Kruna”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
25/38
Luca Hanni performs the song “She Got Me” for Switzerland.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
26/38
Australia’s Kate Miller-Heidke performs the song “Zero Gravity” with a spectacular stage display.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
27/38
Spain’s Miki wraps up the Grand Final with the tune “La Venda”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
28/38
Hosts Assi Azar, Lucy Ayoub, Bar Refaeli and Erez Tall walk on stage for the final.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
29/38
Designer Jean-Paul Gaultier and supermodel Bar Refaeli chat during the final.
Guy Prives/Getty Images
30/38
Serhat, representing San Marino, and Israel’s TV host Assi Azar are pictured together during the evening.
Guy Prives/Getty Images
31/38
Demonstrators protest the Eurovision on the sidelines of the song contest in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
32/38
Demonstrators protest the Eurovision on the sidelines of the song contest in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
33/38
A UK supporter poses in the Eurovision village in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
34/38
This installation is located in the Eurovision village.
Bel Trew
35/38
Crowds gather in the Eurovision village on the sidelines of the contest.
Bel Trew
36/38
Supporters of the Netherlands pose in the Eurovision village.
Bel Trew
37/38
Duncan Laurence, representing The Netherlands, wins the Grand Final of the Eurovision.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
38/38
Duncan Laurence performs “Arcade” after winning the song contest.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
Laurence’s doleful piano ballad was tapped as an early front-runner before Saturday’s Grand Final.
But it had to rely on the fan vote to secure the country’s fifth win in the competition.
Italy finished second, followed by Russia, Switzerland and Norway.
Some 200 million people around the world were expected to watch the annual contest with 26 nations battling to be crowned Europe’s best pop act.
The UK’s Michael Rice was placed last – scoring only 16 points.
Additional reporting by agencies
Click here to read The Independent’s live blog of the final.
