The full Eredivisie fixture schedule for the 2023/24 season is final. The first round matches were announced yesterday. FC Volendam and Vitesse kick off the Eredivisie season on the evening of Friday 11 August at 8 pm in Volendam. As for national champions Feyenoord, they will get the ball rolling on the new season on Sunday 13 August at 2.30 pm at their home ground, the Kuip, against Fortuna Sittar. On 24 September, the classic between Ajax and Feyenoord will take place at 2.30pm. This match is the first big game of the season.
Eredivisie schedule increasingly difficult to put together
Since the 2018 change agenda, clubs playing in Europe have been taken into account when drawing up the Eredivisie schedule. The European successes of the Eredivisie clubs mean that scheduling is a tougher task than ever, and the 2024-25 season all the more so because of the extra European ticket as a result of securing the number 6 spot in the UEFA country ranking.
Jan de Jong, director Eredivisie CV: "The impossible puzzle that is the fixture schedule has once again been solved. With blood, sweat and tears. And a lot of cooperation from countless parties: clubs, municipalities, police, KNVB. Thank you! The 2023-2024 seasons looks likely to be another great year. There is a lot at stake, including two guaranteed UEFA Champions League spots for Dutch clubs. In addition to eternal fame, there is of course a lot of extra money to be made from this. Chances are, there will be full commitment and investment in that direction this summer. We expect a lot of fireworks this transfer window. Hopefully that will lead to a further quality boost for the Eredivisie. But it's not just the top end that is going to be exciting. The same can be said for the bottom of the league. A lot of clubs have been relegated in recent years that nobody thought possible. No fewer than 15* (!) of the 34 clubs have switched from the Eredivisie to the Keuken Kampioen Divisie and vice versa in the last five years. Heading into the season, virtually no club is 100% safe. That makes the Eredivisie even more fun, exciting and unpredictable."
*ADO Den Haag, Excelsior, FC Emmen, FC Twente, FC Volendam, Go Ahead Eagles, Heracles Almelo, NEC, NAC Breda, PEC Zwolle, RKC Waalwijk, SC Cambuur, Sparta Rotterdam, VVV Venlo, De Graafschap and Willem II.
Creation
Work on the new fixture schedule begins every autumn. First, the international matchday calendar (international and European football) is circulated by FIFA and UEFA. Then, in consultation with the government and the clubs, the matchday calendar for the Eredivisie, Keuken Kampioen Divisie, Johan Cruijff Schaal, TOTO KNVB Beker and the play-offs is determined.
Lastly, a draft fixture schedule is finalised, taking into account numerous aspects. These are obviously sporting aspects, but also include wishes and bottlenecks of local authorities, clubs, supporters and ESPN. During the process, the schedule is discussed with the Supporters' Collective Netherlands, the Eredivisie CV, the CED, the Central Players' Council (CSR), the Central Trainers' Council (CTR), ESPN and all the clubs. Finalisation is done by the Professional Football League Board, which consists of the KNVB's director of professional football, the director of the ECV and the director of the CED.