The Eredivisie season will start on 12 September, following the government's decision to ease coronavirus restrictions.
"The anticipated start of the league will take place 12-13 September," the KNVB said in a statement, adding players would need six to eight weeks to get fully fit.
Dutch authorities announced on Wednesday that football stadiums can re-open their doors to fans from July, but only under conditions including a mandatory 1.5 metre distance between occupied seats.
On Friday morning, the KNVB has announced the matchweek calendar for the 2020/21 season, in which flexibility has been built in with a view to a possible second corona wave. Briefly, this means:
- The first matchweek of the Eredivisie will start on September 12 and 13.
- Matches will be played mainly on Saturday and Sunday. At the request of the clubs and FOX Sports, Saturdays matches are played at 6:45 pm (CEST), 8 pm (CEST) and 9 pm (CEST), with 4:30 pm (CEST) possibly becoming an option (under investigation).
- At this time, there are no games scheduled for Sundays at 8pm (CEST).
- There are four matchweeks during the week: 22/23 December, 12/13/14 January, 26/27/28 January and 13 May (Feast of the Ascension).
- The winter break remains: December 23 to January 8.
- The number of matches of the playoffs is halved and will take place from May 17 to 23.
- There will be no Johan Cruyff Schaal match (Dutch Super Cup), since the 2019/20 season has ended without champions and cup winner.
