Fixtures

DateRHome vs Away-
03/30 15:30 27 NEC vs PSV View
03/30 17:45 27 Sparta Rotterdam vs Fortuna Sittard View
03/30 19:00 27 Go Ahead Eagles vs Excelsior View
03/30 19:00 27 RKC vs Heerenveen View
03/30 20:00 27 AZ vs Vitesse View
03/31 10:15 27 PEC Zwolle vs Ajax View
03/31 12:30 27 Feyenoord vs FC Utrecht View
03/31 12:30 27 FC Twente vs Heracles View
03/31 14:45 27 Almere City FC vs FC Volendam View
04/02 16:45 28 Vitesse vs Sparta Rotterdam View
04/02 18:00 28 Excelsior vs PSV View
04/02 19:00 28 Fortuna Sittard vs NEC View

Results

Date R Home vs Away -
03/17 19:00 26 [1] PSV vs FC Twente [3] 1-0
03/17 15:45 26 [11] Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax [5] 2-2
03/17 13:30 26 [10] Heerenveen vs Feyenoord [2] 2-3
03/17 13:30 26 [9] FC Utrecht vs NEC [6] 1-0
03/17 11:15 26 [18] FC Volendam vs AZ [4] 0-4
03/16 20:00 26 [17] Vitesse vs Almere City FC [12] 1-1
03/16 19:00 26 [15] Excelsior vs RKC [16] 1-1
03/16 17:45 26 [10] Fortuna Sittard vs PEC Zwolle [13] 3-1
03/15 19:00 26 [14] Heracles vs Go Ahead Eagles [7] 2-0
03/10 19:00 25 [2] Feyenoord vs Heracles [14] 3-0
03/10 15:45 25 [7] NEC vs Heerenveen [9] 2-0
03/10 13:30 25 [13] PEC Zwolle vs FC Volendam [18] 1-1

Wikipedia - Eredivisie

The Eredivisie (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈeːrədivizi]; "Honour Division" or "Premier Division") is the highest level of professional football in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956, two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. As of the 2023–24 season, it is ranked the 6th-best league in Europe by UEFA.

The Eredivisie consists of 18 clubs. Each club meets every other club twice during the season, once at home and once away. At the end of each season, the two clubs at the bottom are relegated to the second level of the Dutch league system, the Eerste Divisie (First Division), while the champion and runner-up of the Eerste Divisie are automatically promoted to the Eredivisie. The club finishing third from the bottom of the Eredivisie goes to separate promotion/relegation play-offs with six high-placed clubs from the Eerste Divisie.

The winner of the Eredivisie claims the Dutch national championship. Ajax have won the most titles with 36. PSV Eindhoven are next with 24, and Feyenoord follow with 16. Since 1965, these three clubs have won all but three Eredivisie titles (the 1981 and 2009 titles went to AZ and FC Twente won in 2010). Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord are known as the "Big Three" or "Traditional Top Three" of Dutch football. They are the only clubs in their current form to have never been relegated out of the Eredivisie. A fourth club, FC Utrecht, is the product of a 1970 merger between three of that city's clubs, one of which, VV DOS, had also never been relegated out of the Eredivisie.

From 1990 to 1999, the official name of the league was PTT Telecompetitie (after the sponsor, PTT Telecom), which was changed to KPN Telecompetitie (because PTT Telecom changed its name to KPN Telecom) in 1999 and to KPN Eredivisie in 2000. From 2002 to 2005, the league was called the Holland Casino Eredivisie. Since the 2005–06 season, the league has been sponsored by the Vriendenloterij (lottery), but for legal reasons its name could not be attached to the league (the Dutch government was against the name, because the Eredivisie would, after Holland Casino's sponsorship, yet again be sponsored by a company providing games of chance).

In August 2012, it was made public that tycoon Rupert Murdoch had secured the rights to the Eredivisie for 12 years at the expense of one billion euros, beginning in the 2013–14 season. Within this deal, the five largest Eredivisie clubs were to receive five million euros per year. In 2020, the Eredivisie was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

History

From the foundation of the Dutch national football championship in 1898 until 1954, the title was decided through play-offs by a handful of clubs who had previously won their regional league. The competition was purely an amateur one; the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) rejected any form of payment and suspended players who were caught receiving salary or transfer fees. The call for professional football grew in the early fifties after many national team members left to play abroad in search for financial benefits. The KNVB would usually suspend these players, preventing them from appearing for the Dutch national team. After the North Sea flood of 1953, the Dutch players abroad (mainly playing in the French league) organised a charity match against the France national team in Paris. The match was boycotted by the KNVB, but after the assembled Dutch players defeated the French (2–1), the Dutch public witnessed the heights that could be achieved through professional football. To serve the growing interest, a dissident professional football association (the NBVB) and league were founded for the 1954–55 season. On 3 July 1954, the KNVB met with a group of concerned amateur club chairmen, who feared the best players would join the professional teams. The meeting, dubbed the slaapkamerconferentie ('bedroom conference'), led to the Association reluctantly accepting semi-professionalism.

Meanwhile, both the KNVB and the NBVB started their separate competition. The first professional football match was contested between Alkmaar and Venlo. The leagues went on for eleven rounds, before a merger was negotiated between the two federations in November. Both leagues were cancelled and a new, combined competition emerged immediately. De Graafschap, Amsterdam, Alkmaar and Fortuna '54 from the NBVB were accepted to the new league. Other clubs merged, which led to new names like Rapid J.C., Holland Sport and Roda Sport. The first (semi-)professional league was won by Willem II. For the 1956–57 season, the KNVB abandoned the regional league system. The Eredivisie was founded, in which the eighteen best clubs nationwide directly played for the league title without play-offs. The inaugural members of the Eredivisie in 1956 were Ajax, BVC, BVV, DOS, EVV, Elinkwijk, SC Enschede, Feijenoord, Fortuna '54, GVAV, MVV, NAC, NOAD, PSV, Rapid J.C., Sparta, VVV '03 and Willem II. Ajax was the first team to claim the title that season. Below is a complete record of how many teams played in each season throughout the league's history;

  • 18 clubs: 1956–1962
  • 16 clubs: 1962–1966
  • 18 clubs: 1966–present
The Netherlands Eredivisie is the premier professional soccer league in the Netherlands. Established in 1956, it is widely regarded as one of the most competitive and exciting leagues in European football. The tournament features 18 teams from across the country, each vying for the coveted title of Eredivisie champion.

Known for its fast-paced and attacking style of play, the Eredivisie showcases some of the finest talents in Dutch football. The league has a rich history of producing world-class players, including Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, and Dennis Bergkamp, who have left an indelible mark on the global game.

The tournament follows a round-robin format, with each team playing against every other team twice, once at home and once away. The season typically runs from August to May, providing fans with months of thrilling football action. Matches are held in state-of-the-art stadiums across the Netherlands, creating an electric atmosphere for both players and spectators.

The Eredivisie is renowned for its competitive nature, with multiple teams often in contention for the title until the final stages of the season. The league also offers intense battles for European qualification and relegation, adding further excitement and drama to the tournament.

In addition to the fierce competition on the field, the Eredivisie is known for its commitment to youth development and nurturing young talents. Many clubs have renowned academies that focus on developing homegrown players, contributing to the overall success of Dutch football on the international stage.

The Netherlands Eredivisie has a dedicated fan base, with passionate supporters filling the stadiums week in and week out. The league's popularity extends beyond the Netherlands, attracting fans from around the world who appreciate the high-quality football and the league's rich history.

Overall, the Netherlands Eredivisie is a thrilling and prestigious soccer tournament that showcases the best of Dutch football. With its exciting style of play, talented players, and passionate fan base, it continues to captivate audiences both domestically and internationally.