No more artificial turf in the Eredivisie from the 2025-26 season

The clubs from Eredivisie and First Division (Keuken Kampioen Divisie) voted on this decision at the General Assembly of Professional Football. The Eredivisie clubs had already unanimously agreed to these regulations at an earlier stage, and now there is also support from the Keuken Kampioen Divisie clubs.

This means that from the 2025-26 season, no more artificial turf will be used in the Eredivisie. Due to the compensation clubs receive when they switch to natural grass or hybrid pitches, the number of artificial turf fields in Dutch professional football has been decreasing for some time. This transition began in 2018 with the Eredivisie Change Agenda.

Recently, Heracles Almelo switched to natural grass after 21 years. Preparations began on Monday (May 20) and on Tuesday (May 21) the artificial turf pellets were removed, and the rolls of artificial turf were taken away. The Almelo club is switching to a so-called hybrid pitch, consisting of 93% grass and 7% artificial turf. Beneath the new grass pitch, a crate system will be installed to collect water under the grass, ensuring irrigation and aeration from below.

Of the eighteen Eredivisie clubs participating next season, at least seventeen will play on natural grass or hybrid pitches. Promoted clubs Willem II and FC Groningen will also play their matches on natural grass. The only Eredivisie club currently still using an artificial turf field is Excelsior Rotterdam. If Excelsior is relegated and NAC Breda is promoted, it could even be possible that all Eredivisie matches next season will be played on grass.