Ereklasse (Netherlands) 2024/25

The Ereklasse is the top-tier professional rugby union league in the Netherlands. Organized by Rugby Nederland, the governing body known as the Nederlandse Rugby Bond until recent years, it sits at the apex of the national pyramid.

The competition was established in 1935, with the inaugural season concluding in 1936. It currently features twelve men's clubs. The format diverges from standard round-robin structures by splitting the field after the regular season. All teams play each other once during the initial phase. The top six and bottom six then divide into separate groups, facing each other twice more. This structure ensures that teams play additional matches against their direct rivals within their tier.

Championship determination relies on a playoff system involving the four best teams from the regular season. Victory in these matches decides the lands kampioen, the national champion. The league also manages promotion and relegation through play-offs. The bottom Ereklasse teams compete against the leading sides from the Eerste Klasse to secure their status for the following year.

Historically, RC Hilversum holds the record for the most titles with nineteen. Haagsche RC follows with sixteen. The current reigning champions are Haagsche RC, having secured the title in the 2025–26 season. The competition serves as the primary qualifier for European tournaments, determining which Dutch clubs enter the Rugby Europe Trophy.

Administrative reforms have expanded the ecosystem beyond the top flight. A separate women's Ereklasse launched in the 2013–14 season. Additionally, a 'Future Klasse' exists to support student rugby. Commercial sponsorship from DEGIRO often leads to the league being referred to as the DeGiro Ereklasse. While the Rugbybeker, or Dutch Cup, runs parallel as a knockout tournament, the Ereklasse remains the definitive measure of domestic excellence.