Dutch football league system
Encyclopedia
The Dutch football league consists of two fully professional leagues (Eredivisie
and Eerste Divisie
) one semi-professional level (Topklasse
) and seven levels of amateur football leagues, the highest of which is called Hoofdklasse
. All the leagues are connected by a Promotion and relegation
system, but in order to be promoted to the Eerste Divisie
a club has to submit a solid business plan to be approved by the Royal Dutch Football Association
, as well as meet certain stadium demands, and some other demands that the Football Association stated for all the teams in the top two leagues. That way is was possible that the IJsselmeervogels
won the 2010–11 Topklasse
, but was not promoted, because they did not want to be bound to these demands. FC Oss was promoted instead. The Football Association obliges every team from the two fully professional leagues to contract 16 players full-time, in order to keep these leagues fully professional.
by way of relegations and promotions, until 2010 it was not possible to be relegated to the Hoofdklasse from the second professional league. In order for an amateur club to be promoted to the professional leagues, it had to submit a solid business plan, as well as meet certain stadium demands, and the demands that the Football Association stated for all the teams in the top two leagues. Because the teams in the Hoofdklasse
were becoming more and more semi-professional, and more and more teams were making the step to fully professional football, it was decided to form a new level between the Hoofdklasse
and the Eerste Divisie
, called the Topklasse
consisting of a group for Saturday and a group for Sunday, starting from the season 2010/2011. The Eerste Divisie
, consisting of twenty teams back then was reduced to 18 teams, with the two teams that finished last in the 2009–10 Eerste Divisie
relegating to the new level. Because of the bankruptcy of HFC Haarlem
, the Netherlands' oldest football club, only FC Oss was relegated. After the first season FC Oss promoted back to the Eerste Divisie because Topklasse-champion IJsselmeervogels
refused to meet the football association's demands. Almere City FC should have been relegated that season, but stayed in the Eerste Divisie because of the bankruptcy of RBC Roosendaal. This results in the fact that in the current competition there's no mixing anymore between the teams that were competing in the Eerste Divisie and Hoofklasse before the introduction of the Topklasse
.
Men=
Until 1971, when it was discontinued, a Tweede Divisie
also existed, comparable to the current Topklasse. The champion of the Eerste Divisie
is promoted directly to the Eredivsie, the team finishing lowest in the Eredivisie is relegated to the Eerste Divisie. the teams finishing 16th and 17th in the Eredivisie compete in promotion and relegation play-offs with 8 teams from the Eerste Divisie, in which the teams from the Eredivisie and the four best teams from the Eerste Divisie play two rounds, and the other four teams play three rounds.
, divided over a Saturday and a Sunday league, both containing 16 teams. After the season the Saterday- and Sunday Champion compete for the overall championship. The Topklasse champion promotes to the Eerste Divisie
, if they refuse promotion or don't meet necessary criteria, the runners-up will replace them. If also the runners-up refuse promotion or don't meet necessary criteria, no team will get relegated from the Eerste Divisie
, which is then followed by seven numbered amateur leagues. Reserve teams do not participate in these leagues, as they have leagues of their own.
Women
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
and Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
) one semi-professional level (Topklasse
Topklasse
Topklasse is the third tier of football in the Netherlands, which had its inaugural season in 2010–11. The league is placed between the Eerste Divisie and the Hoofdklasse, the second and fourth tiers of Dutch football, respectively...
) and seven levels of amateur football leagues, the highest of which is called Hoofdklasse
Hoofdklasse
The Hoofdklasse is the 2nd highest league of amateur football in the Netherlands, and the fourth tier in general.-Background:The league is divided into two sections: Saturday and Sunday. This is a result of the traditional pillarisation , the segregation of Dutch society. The Saturday-clubs are by...
. All the leagues are connected by a Promotion and relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
system, but in order to be promoted to the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
a club has to submit a solid business plan to be approved by the Royal Dutch Football Association
Royal Dutch Football Association
The Royal Dutch Football Association is the governing body of football in the Netherlands. It organises the main Dutch football leagues , the amateur leagues, the KNVB Cup, and the Dutch national football team. It is based in the municipality of Zeist.The KNVB came into being on 8 December 1889...
, as well as meet certain stadium demands, and some other demands that the Football Association stated for all the teams in the top two leagues. That way is was possible that the IJsselmeervogels
IJsselmeervogels
IJsselmeervogels are a Dutch amateur football club, based in Bunschoten-Spakenburg. The club was founded in 1932, as Na Arbeid Sport . The club currently plays in the Topklasse, the highest tier of amateur football in the Netherlands. It is the most successful amateur team in the Netherlands...
won the 2010–11 Topklasse
2010–11 Topklasse
The 2010–11 Topklasse season was the first and inaugural edition of the newly created Dutch third tier. A total 32 teams competed in the league, one of them coming from the fully professional 2009–10 Eerste Divisie, and the remaining 31 from the amateur 2009–10 Hoofdklasse...
, but was not promoted, because they did not want to be bound to these demands. FC Oss was promoted instead. The Football Association obliges every team from the two fully professional leagues to contract 16 players full-time, in order to keep these leagues fully professional.
Before the introduction of the Topklasse
While they are largely interconnectedLeague system
A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport, usually with a system of promotion and relegation between consecutive levels of the hierarchy. They are often called pyramids due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions the further down the pyramid one descends...
by way of relegations and promotions, until 2010 it was not possible to be relegated to the Hoofdklasse from the second professional league. In order for an amateur club to be promoted to the professional leagues, it had to submit a solid business plan, as well as meet certain stadium demands, and the demands that the Football Association stated for all the teams in the top two leagues. Because the teams in the Hoofdklasse
Hoofdklasse
The Hoofdklasse is the 2nd highest league of amateur football in the Netherlands, and the fourth tier in general.-Background:The league is divided into two sections: Saturday and Sunday. This is a result of the traditional pillarisation , the segregation of Dutch society. The Saturday-clubs are by...
were becoming more and more semi-professional, and more and more teams were making the step to fully professional football, it was decided to form a new level between the Hoofdklasse
Hoofdklasse
The Hoofdklasse is the 2nd highest league of amateur football in the Netherlands, and the fourth tier in general.-Background:The league is divided into two sections: Saturday and Sunday. This is a result of the traditional pillarisation , the segregation of Dutch society. The Saturday-clubs are by...
and the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
, called the Topklasse
Topklasse
Topklasse is the third tier of football in the Netherlands, which had its inaugural season in 2010–11. The league is placed between the Eerste Divisie and the Hoofdklasse, the second and fourth tiers of Dutch football, respectively...
consisting of a group for Saturday and a group for Sunday, starting from the season 2010/2011. The Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
, consisting of twenty teams back then was reduced to 18 teams, with the two teams that finished last in the 2009–10 Eerste Divisie
2009–10 Eerste Divisie
-Coaches and budget:-Results table:Source: -Standings:-Standings 1st Period:Source: -Standings 2nd Period:Source: -Standings 3rd Period:Source: -Standings 4th Period:Source: ...
relegating to the new level. Because of the bankruptcy of HFC Haarlem
HFC Haarlem
HFC Haarlem was a Dutch football club from the city of Haarlem, established in 1889. The club won the Dutch national title in 1946 and reached five Cup finals, winning in 1902 and 1912...
, the Netherlands' oldest football club, only FC Oss was relegated. After the first season FC Oss promoted back to the Eerste Divisie because Topklasse-champion IJsselmeervogels
IJsselmeervogels
IJsselmeervogels are a Dutch amateur football club, based in Bunschoten-Spakenburg. The club was founded in 1932, as Na Arbeid Sport . The club currently plays in the Topklasse, the highest tier of amateur football in the Netherlands. It is the most successful amateur team in the Netherlands...
refused to meet the football association's demands. Almere City FC should have been relegated that season, but stayed in the Eerste Divisie because of the bankruptcy of RBC Roosendaal. This results in the fact that in the current competition there's no mixing anymore between the teams that were competing in the Eerste Divisie and Hoofklasse before the introduction of the Topklasse
Topklasse
Topklasse is the third tier of football in the Netherlands, which had its inaugural season in 2010–11. The league is placed between the Eerste Divisie and the Hoofdklasse, the second and fourth tiers of Dutch football, respectively...
.
Men=
Level |
Level Name |
League(s)/Division(s) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... 18 clubs |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 |
Eerste Divisie Eerste Divisie The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium... |
Eerste Divisie Eerste Divisie The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium... 18 clubs |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 |
Topklasse Topklasse Topklasse is the third tier of football in the Netherlands, which had its inaugural season in 2010–11. The league is placed between the Eerste Divisie and the Hoofdklasse, the second and fourth tiers of Dutch football, respectively... |
Saturday Group 16 clubs |
Sunday Group 16 clubs |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 |
Hoofdklasse Hoofdklasse The Hoofdklasse is the 2nd highest league of amateur football in the Netherlands, and the fourth tier in general.-Background:The league is divided into two sections: Saturday and Sunday. This is a result of the traditional pillarisation , the segregation of Dutch society. The Saturday-clubs are by... |
Saturday A 14 clubs |
Saturday B 14 clubs |
Saturday C 14 clubs |
Sunday A 14 clubs |
Sunday B 14 clubs |
Sunday C 14 clubs |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Eerste klasse Eerste Klasse The Eerste Klasse is the fifth tier of football in the Netherlands, and the second tier of amateur football. The league is divided into eleven divisions, five for Saturday clubs and six for Sunday clubs... |
West I | West II | South I | South II | East | North | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sat.1A 14 clubs |
Sun.1A 14 clubs |
Sat.1B 14 clubs |
Sun.1B 14 clubs |
Sat.1C 14 clubs |
Sun.1C 14 clubs |
Sun.1D 14 clubs |
Sat.1E 14 clubs |
Sun.1E 14 clubs |
Sat.1F 14 clubs |
Sun.1F 14 clubs |
|||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Tweede Klasse Tweede Klasse The Tweede Klasse is the fifth tier of football in the Netherlands and the third tier of Dutch amateur football. The league is divided into 22 division, 10 played on Saturday and 12 on Sunday.... |
West I | West II | South I | South II | East | North | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Groups | 4 Groups | 4 Groups | 2 Groups | 4 Groups | 4 Groups | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Derde Klasse Derde Klasse The Derde Klasse is the sixth tier of football in the Netherlands and the fourth tier of Dutch amateur football. The league is divided into 44 division, 20 played on Saturday and 24 on Sunday.... |
West I | West II | South I | South II | East | North | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 Groups | 8 Groups | 8 Groups | 4 Groups | 8 Groups | 8 Groups | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Vierde Klasse Vierde Klasse The Vierde Klasse is the seventh tier of football in the Netherlands and the fifth tier of Dutch amateur football. The league is divided into 70 division, 26 played on Saturday and 44 on Sunday.... |
West I | West II | South I | South II | East | North | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 Groups | 12 Groups | 13 Groups | 8 Groups | 14 Groups | 8 Groups | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Vijfde Klasse Vijfde Klasse The Vijfde Klasse is the eight tier of football in the Netherlands and the sixth tier of Dutch amateur football. The league is divided into 55 divisions, 11 played on Saturday and 44 on Sunday.... |
West I | West II | South I | South II | East | North | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 Groups | 9 Groups | 8 Groups | 8 Groups | 14 Groups | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Zesde Klasse Zesde Klasse The Zesde Klasse is the ninth and lowest tier of football in the Netherlands for most of the districts and the seventh tier of Dutch amateur football. The league is divided into 26 divisions, 5 played on Saturday and 21 on Sunday.... |
West I | West II | South I | South II | East | North | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Groups | 6 Groups | 4 Groups | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Professional leagues
- 18 teams in the EredivisieEredivisieThe Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
- 18 teams in the Eerste DivisieEerste DivisieThe Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
Until 1971, when it was discontinued, a Tweede Divisie
Tweede Divisie
The Tweede Divisie was the lowest professional football league in the Netherlands. It was established in 1956, together with the Eredivisie and the Eerste Divisie. Between 1956 and 1960 and between 1962 and 1966, the league consisted of two divisions, Tweede Divisie A and Tweede Divisie B. The...
also existed, comparable to the current Topklasse. The champion of the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
is promoted directly to the Eredivsie, the team finishing lowest in the Eredivisie is relegated to the Eerste Divisie. the teams finishing 16th and 17th in the Eredivisie compete in promotion and relegation play-offs with 8 teams from the Eerste Divisie, in which the teams from the Eredivisie and the four best teams from the Eerste Divisie play two rounds, and the other four teams play three rounds.
Topklasse
Since the 2010/2011 season, 32 teams compete in the TopklasseTopklasse
Topklasse is the third tier of football in the Netherlands, which had its inaugural season in 2010–11. The league is placed between the Eerste Divisie and the Hoofdklasse, the second and fourth tiers of Dutch football, respectively...
, divided over a Saturday and a Sunday league, both containing 16 teams. After the season the Saterday- and Sunday Champion compete for the overall championship. The Topklasse champion promotes to the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
, if they refuse promotion or don't meet necessary criteria, the runners-up will replace them. If also the runners-up refuse promotion or don't meet necessary criteria, no team will get relegated from the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
Amateur leagues
The highest league is called HoofdklasseHoofdklasse
The Hoofdklasse is the 2nd highest league of amateur football in the Netherlands, and the fourth tier in general.-Background:The league is divided into two sections: Saturday and Sunday. This is a result of the traditional pillarisation , the segregation of Dutch society. The Saturday-clubs are by...
, which is then followed by seven numbered amateur leagues. Reserve teams do not participate in these leagues, as they have leagues of their own.
- The highest amateur league is called HoofdklasseHoofdklasseThe Hoofdklasse is the 2nd highest league of amateur football in the Netherlands, and the fourth tier in general.-Background:The league is divided into two sections: Saturday and Sunday. This is a result of the traditional pillarisation , the segregation of Dutch society. The Saturday-clubs are by...
. It is divided into three divisions each of Saturday and Sunday clubs, with 14 clubs in each division. The champions of the three Saturday divisions compete for the overall Saturday title, as do the three Sunday champions for the Sunday title. The Saturday league champion and the Sunday league champion then compete for the title of national amateur champion. - The next amateur league is called Eerste klasseEerste KlasseThe Eerste Klasse is the fifth tier of football in the Netherlands, and the second tier of amateur football. The league is divided into eleven divisions, five for Saturday clubs and six for Sunday clubs...
, with five Saturday league divisions and six Sunday league divisions, with 12 clubs each. - Tweede KlasseTweede KlasseThe Tweede Klasse is the fifth tier of football in the Netherlands and the third tier of Dutch amateur football. The league is divided into 22 division, 10 played on Saturday and 12 on Sunday....
, with ten Saturday league divisions and twelve Sunday league divisions, with 12 clubs each. - The next level, Derde KlasseDerde KlasseThe Derde Klasse is the sixth tier of football in the Netherlands and the fourth tier of Dutch amateur football. The league is divided into 44 division, 20 played on Saturday and 24 on Sunday....
, is additionally divided into regional groups. The Saturday league is divided into five regional groups with four divisions each, and the Sunday league is divided into six regional groups, again with four divisions each. Each division has between 11 and 14 clubs. - In the Vierde KlasseVierde KlasseThe Vierde Klasse is the seventh tier of football in the Netherlands and the fifth tier of Dutch amateur football. The league is divided into 70 division, 26 played on Saturday and 44 on Sunday....
, the same regional groups from the Derde klasse are kept, although now the number of divisions varies from four to eight. Again, each division contains between 11 and 14 clubs. - In the Vijfde KlasseVijfde KlasseThe Vijfde Klasse is the eight tier of football in the Netherlands and the sixth tier of Dutch amateur football. The league is divided into 55 divisions, 11 played on Saturday and 44 on Sunday....
, the Saturday league is divided into three regional groups and the Sunday league into the same six regions. The number of divisions varies from three to eleven, with each division having between 11 and 14 clubs. - The lowest amateur league in all regions except for the Sunday North-region, Zesde KlasseZesde KlasseThe Zesde Klasse is the ninth and lowest tier of football in the Netherlands for most of the districts and the seventh tier of Dutch amateur football. The league is divided into 26 divisions, 5 played on Saturday and 21 on Sunday....
, has no regional groupings for the Saturday league (all teams are from the North-region), but four for the Sunday league. The number of divisions is between three and seven, with 10 to 14 clubs participating in each division. - The lowest amateur league overall, Zevende KlasseZevende KlasseThe Zevende Klasse is the tenth and lowest tier of football in the Netherlands and the eight tier of Dutch amateur football. The league is divided into 3 divisions, only played on Sunday and only in district North....
, only exists in Sunday-football in the North-region. There is a total of three division, with 10 to 14 clubs participating in each division.
Women
Level |
League(s)/Division(s) |
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Eredivisie Eredivisie (women) Starting in 2007, the Eredivisie is the first professional football league for women in the Netherlands. Unlike its male equivalent, the Eredivisie for women is smaller currently featuring only eight teams.... 8 clubs |
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2 |
Hoofdklasse Hoofdklasse (women) The Hoofdklasse is the highest league of amateur women's football in the Netherlands, and the second tier in general.When the Hoofdklasse was created in 1973, the league was the top level league of the Netherlands, and the winner was named the national champion... 12 clubs |
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3 |
Eerste Klasse Group A 12 clubs |
Eerste Klasse Group B 12 clubs |
Eerste Klasse Group C 12 clubs |
Eerste Klasse Group D 12 clubs |
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