Eerste Divisie (Netherlands) 2026/27

The Eerste Divisie operates as the second tier of professional football in the Netherlands, sitting directly below the Eredivisie and above the Tweede Divisie. Founded in 1956 by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), the competition currently carries the name Keuken Kampioen Divisie following a sponsorship agreement that began in 2018. The league schedule features 20 teams competing in a double round-robin format, resulting in 38 matches per side.

A defining characteristic of the Eerste Divisie is the inclusion of reserve squads, known as Jong teams, from top-flight clubs such as Ajax, PSV, AZ, and FC Utrecht. While these sides participate to aid player development, they face strict limitations: they cannot be promoted to the Eredivisie, nor are they eligible for the KNVB Cup. If a reserve team wins a period or qualifies for the playoffs, their position is passed to the next eligible side in the standings.

The competitive structure utilises a 'period' system introduced in 2011–12, which splits the campaign into four shorter tournaments. Winners of these periods automatically enter the promotion playoffs, known as the Nacompetitie, regardless of their final overall ranking. Alongside the period champions, the two highest-placed teams that have not already qualified via period wins also join the knockout stage. This playoff involves six Eerste Divisie teams facing the 16th-placed side from the Eredivisie for the final promotion spot.

FC Volendam holds the record for the most league titles with seven victories, having also secured the most recent championship in 2024–25. Other clubs with four titles include FC Den Bosch, Willem II, Heracles Almelo, and ADO Den Haag. The league has evolved significantly since its inception, previously operating under names such as TOTO Divisie and Jupiler League.