Eurovision 2019: Netherlands entry Duncan Laurence wins contest in Tel Aviv with song 'Arcade'

The Netherlands win for the first time since 1975

(Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

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.”

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.