# Ralf Mackenbach

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Dutch former child singer (born 1995)

Ralf Mackenbach Mackenbach in 2022 Born Ralf Johannes Josephus Mackenbach (1995-10-04) 4 October 1995 (age 30) Eindhoven, Netherlands Occupations Singer dancer actor plasma physicist Musical career Genres Pop music Instruments Vocals piano drums Years active 2005–present Musical artist Scientific career Fields Applied physics Institutions Eindhoven University of Technology (PhD) EPFL (postdoc)

**Ralf Johannes Josephus Mackenbach**[1] (born 4 October 1995) is a Dutch [plasma physicist](/source/Plasma_physics), artist and former child singer, best known for winning the [Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009](/source/Junior_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2009) with the song "[Click Clack](/source/Click_Clack)".[2] He is the first and, to date, only Dutch winner of the contest.

## Early life

Mackenbach was born in [Eindhoven](/source/Eindhoven),[1] and grew up in [Best](/source/Best%2C_Netherlands), [North Brabant](/source/North_Brabant).[3] As a child, he starred in the musicals *[Tarzan](/source/Tarzan_(musical))* and *[Beauty and the Beast](/source/Beauty_and_the_Beast_(musical))*.[4] He attended Amsterdam's dancing academy Lucia Marthas, and studied acting at Centrum voor de Kunsten Eindhoven (CKE) in Eindhoven.[5]

## Career

### Musical career

In 2009, at the age of thirteen, Mackenbach won the 2009 edition of *[Junior Songfestival](/source/Junior_Songfestival)* with the song "[Click Clack](/source/Click_Clack)".[6] As a result, he represented the Netherlands in the [Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009](/source/Junior_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2009), and went on to win the competition with 121 points. "Click Clack" peaked at number 7 in the [Dutch Single Top 100](/source/Dutch_Single_Top_100).[7] Subsequently, he appeared in the [2010](/source/Junior_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2010), [2012](/source/Junior_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2012) and [2022](/source/Junior_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2022) contests as part of an interval act.[8]

Mackenbach at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in Minsk

Mackenbach's debut album *Ralf* achieved a top 10 spot in the Dutch album charts and entered the Flemish album charts at number 59.[9] In March 2011, it achieved gold status with over 25,000 sales.[10]

In 2011 and 2012, Mackenbach participated in the celebrity contest shows *[Sterren dansen op het ijs](/source/Sterren_dansen_op_het_ijs)* and *[Sterren springen op zaterdag](/source/Sterren_Springen_Op_Zaterdag)*. He was also a judge on the 2011 edition of the Dutch talent show *[My Name Is…](/source/My_Name_is..._(TV_program))*. In 2019, he appeared as a judge on the Dutch adaptation of *[All Together Now](/source/All_Together_Now_(franchise))*.[11]

### Academic career

After graduating secondary school with a [VWO](/source/Voorbereidend_wetenschappelijk_onderwijs) certificate, Mackenbach studied at the [Eindhoven University of Technology](/source/Eindhoven_University_of_Technology). In 2019, he finished a master's degree in [nuclear fusion](/source/Nuclear_fusion), for which he wrote the dissertation *Numerical Modelling of Mode Penetration in Cylindrical Geometries Using M3D-C1*.[12]

Continuing his studies at the Eindhoven University of Technology, Mackenbach completed his PhD [cum laude](/source/Cum_laude) in November 2023 with a thesis titled *Available Energy: A compass for navigating the nonlinear landscape of fusion plasma turbulence*.[1] Since 2024, he is a postdoctoral researcher at the [École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne](/source/%C3%89cole_Polytechnique_F%C3%A9d%C3%A9rale_de_Lausanne) (EPFL).[13]

## Discography

### Albums

- *Ralf* (2010)

- *Moving On* (2011)

- *Seventeen* (2012)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-thesis_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-thesis_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-thesis_1-2) Mackenbach, R. J. J. (2023). [*Available Energy: A compass for navigating the nonlinear landscape of fusion plasma turbulence*](https://pure.tue.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/309379925/20231129_Mackenbach_hf.pdf) (PDF) (PhD thesis). [Eindhoven University of Technology](/source/Eindhoven_University_of_Technology). Retrieved 10 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Netherlands first, Russia second at Junior Eurovision"](http://www.kyivpost.com/news/guide/guidenews/detail/53375/). *[Kyiv Post](/source/Kyiv_Post)*. November 23, 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Ralf Mackenbach"](https://www.itb-entertainment.com/ralf-mackenbach/). *ITB Entertainment Group* (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Ralf Mackenbach"](https://theaterencyclopedie.nl/wiki/Ralf_Mackenbach). *Theaterencyclopedie*. Retrieved 16 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Brandt, Monique (21 November 2009). ["Nederland wint Junior Eurovisie Songfestival"](https://www.parool.nl/nieuws/nederland-wint-junior-eurovisie-songfestival~bb8441d8/). *[Het Parool](/source/Het_Parool)*. Retrieved 16 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Findhammer-Schut, Martine. ["Zo gaat het nu met Ralf Mackenback, die in 2009 Junior Eurovisiesongfestival won"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210822150043/https://www.linda.nl/lief-en-leed/kindster/zo-gaat-nu-ralf-mackenbach-2009-junior-eurovisiesongfestival-won/). Archived from [the original](https://www.linda.nl/lief-en-leed/kindster/zo-gaat-nu-ralf-mackenbach-2009-junior-eurovisiesongfestival-won/) on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Ralf - Click Clack"](https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Ralf&titel=Click+Clack&cat=s). *DutchCharts.nl*. Retrieved 16 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Junior Eurovision 2022: 11 Champions will perform in Yerevan!"](https://junioreurovision.tv/story/junior-eurovision-2022-11-champions-will-perform-yerevan). *junioreurovision.tv*. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Ralf - Ralf"](https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Ralf&titel=Ralf&cat=a). *DutchCharts.nl*. Retrieved 16 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Debuutalbum Ralf is Goud"](https://www.shownieuws.nl/showflits/2011/debuutalbum-ralf-is-goud/). *Shownieuws*. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Heerkens, Robin. ["Ken je 'm nog? Junior Songfestival-winnaar Ralf Mackenbach is nu… ingenieur!"](https://www.superguide.nl/nieuws/ken-je-m-nog-junior-songfestival-winnaar-ralf-mackenbach-is-nu-ingenieur-tv). *Veronica Superguide*. Retrieved 16 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Mackenbach, R.J.J. ["Numerical modelling of mode penetration in cylindrical geometries using M3D-C1"](https://research.tue.nl/nl/studentTheses/numerical-modelling-of-mode-penetration-in-cylindrical-geometries). *TU/e*. Retrieved 16 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Barth, Nadia (9 October 2024). [""I am a strong believer in the collaborative nature of research""](https://actu.epfl.ch/news/i-am-a-strong-believer-in-the-collaborative-nature/). *EPFL*. Retrieved 10 January 2026.

## External links

- [Official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20230830122608/https://www.ralfmackenbach.nl/) at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (archived 30 August 2023)

- Media related to [Ralf Mackenbach](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ralf_Mackenbach) at Wikimedia Commons

Awards and achievements Preceded by Marissa with "1 dag" Netherlands in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Succeeded by Senna and Anna with "My Family" Preceded by Bzikebi with "Bzz.." Winner of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Succeeded by Vladimir Arzumanyan with "Mama"

v t e List of Junior Eurovision Song Contest winners Winning countries 2000s Croatia Spain Belarus Russia Belarus Georgia Netherlands 2010s Armenia Georgia Ukraine Malta Italy Malta Georgia Russia Poland Poland 2020s France Armenia France France Georgia France Winning performers 2000s Dino Jelusić María Isabel Ksenia Sitnik Tolmachevy Sisters Alexey Zhigalkovich Bzikebi Ralf Mackenbach 2010s Vladimir Arzumanyan Candy Anastasiya Petryk Gaia Cauchi Vincenzo Cantiello Destiny Chukunyere Mariam Mamadashvili Polina Bogusevich Roksana Węgiel Viki Gabor 2020s Valentina Maléna Lissandro Zoé Clauzure Andria Putkaradze Lou Deleuze Winning songs 2000s "Ti si moja prva ljubav" "Antes muerta que sencilla" "My vmeste" "Vesenniy jazz" "S druz'yami" "Bzz.." "Click Clack" 2010s "Mama" "Candy Music" "Nebo" "The Start" "Tu primo grande amore" "Not My Soul" "Mzeo" "Wings" "Anyone I Want to Be" "Superhero" 2020s "J'imagine" "Qami Qami" "Oh Maman !" "Cœur" "To My Mom" "Ce monde" Winning songwriters 2000s Dino Jelusić María Isabel Ksenia Sitnik Tolmachevy Sisters Alexey Zhigalkovich Giorgi Shiolashvili / Mariam Kikuashvili / Mariam Tatulashvili Ralf Mackenbach 2010s Vladimir Arzumanyan George Kukhianidze Anastasiya Petryk Gaia Cauchi / Matt Muxu Vincenzo Cantiello Destiny Chukunyere / Elton Zarb / Matt Muxu Maka Davitaia / Giga Kukhianidze Taras Demchuk Maegan Cottone / Nathan Duvall / Cutfather / Peter Wallevik / Daniel Davidsen / Małgorzata Uściłowska / Patryk Kumór [pl] Małgorzata Uściłowska / Patryk Kumór [pl] / Dominic Buczkowski-Wojtaszek [pl] 2020s Igit / Barbara Pravi Tokionine / Vahram Petrosyan / Maléna / David Tserunyan Barbara Pravi / Frédéric Château [fr] / Nico Staff Julien Comblat / Jérémy Chapron / Noée Francheteau Giga Kukhianidze / Maka Davitaia John Claes / Jonathan Thyssens / Pauline Thisse Category Project

v t e Netherlands in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest National selection: Junior Songfestival 2003 2004 2005 Tess 2006 2007 Lisa, Amy and Shelley "Adem in, adem uit" 2008 2009 Ralf Mackenbach 2010 2011 Rachel 2012 Femke 2013 Mylène and Rosanne 2014 2015 2016 Stefania Liberakakis 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

v t e Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Armenia Luara Hayrapetyan Belarus Belgium Laura Omloop Cyprus Georgia Macedonia Sara Markoska Malta Netherlands Ralf Mackenbach Romania Russia Ekaterina Ryabova Serbia Sweden Mimmi Sandén Ukraine

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National Netherlands Academics ORCID Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ralf Mackenbach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralf_Mackenbach) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralf_Mackenbach?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.