| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 12 September 2020 – 16 May 2021 |
| Champions | Ajax (35th title)[1] |
| Relegated | Emmen VVV-Venlo ADO Den Haag |
| Champions League | Ajax PSV Eindhoven |
| Europa League | AZ |
| Europa Conference League | Vitesse Feyenoord |
| Matches | 306 |
| Goals | 920 (3.01 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Giorgos Giakoumakis (26 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Sparta Rotterdam 6–0ADO Den Haag (22 November 2020) Feyenoord 6–0VVV-Venlo (6 March 2021) |
| Biggest away win | VVV-Venlo0–13Ajax (24 October 2020) |
| Highest scoring | VVV-Venlo0–13Ajax (24 October 2020) |
| Longest winning run | 7 matches Ajax |
| Longest unbeaten run | 23 matches Ajax |
| Longest winless run | 22 matches Emmen |
| Longest losing run | 12 matches VVV-Venlo |
2021–22 → | |
The2020–21 Eredivisie was the 65th season of the Eredivisie since its establishment in 1955. The season began on 12 September 2020 and concluded on 16 May 2021.[2]
On 2 February 2021, theKNVB announced that effective immediately clubs would be allowed to make an extra substitution for suspected concussions as part of anIFAB sanctioned trial. This trial will allow teams to make up to six substitutions across four breaks in the match instead of five substitutions across three breaks in the match.[3]
Ajax, having won the title in2018–19, were the title holders, since the2019–20 edition was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands after 25 matchdays and the title was not awarded.
A total of 18 teams are taking part in the league. There were no changes in the league's makeup due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined underFIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADO Den Haag | Cars Jeans | |||
| Ajax | Ziggo | |||
| AZ | AFAS Software | |||
| FC Emmen | EasyToys | |||
| Feyenoord | Droomparken | |||
| Fortuna Sittard | Hurkmans Groep | |||
| FC Groningen | Office Centre | |||
| sc Heerenveen | Ausnutria | |||
| Heracles Almelo | Asito | |||
| PEC Zwolle | Molecaten | |||
| PSV | Metropoolregio Brainport Eindhoven | |||
| RKC Waalwijk | Willy Naessens | |||
| Sparta Rotterdam | D&S Groep | |||
| FC Twente | Pure Energie | |||
| FC Utrecht | T-Mobile | |||
| Vitesse | Waterontharder.com | |||
| VVV-Venlo | Seacon Logistics | |||
| Willem II | DESTIL |
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADO Den Haag | End of contract | 30 June 2020 | Preseason | 1 July 2020 | [4] | ||
| Fortuna Sittard | Different role | [5] | |||||
| PSV | End of interim spell | [6] | |||||
| FC Twente | End of contract | [7] | |||||
| Vitesse | End of interim spell | [8] | |||||
| FC Utrecht | Signed byGenk | 7 November 2020 | 8th | 7 November 2020 | [9] | ||
| ADO Den Haag | Sacked | 8 November 2020 | 16th | 10 November 2020 | [10][11] | ||
| Fortuna Sittard | 11 November 2020 | 18th | 2 December 2020 | [12][13] | |||
| AZ | 4 December 2020 | 7th | 4 December 2020 | [14] | |||
| Willem II | 26 January 2021 | 17th | 29 January 2021 | [15][16] | |||
| PEC Zwolle | 20 February 2021 | 13th | 24 February 2021 | [17][18] | |||
| End of interim spell | 27 February 2021 | 12th | 27 February 2021 | ||||
| VVV-Venlo | Sacked | 16 March 2021 | 15th | 17 March 2021 | [19][20] |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ajax(C) | 34 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 102 | 23 | +79 | 88 | Qualification for theChampions League group stage |
| 2 | PSV Eindhoven | 34 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 74 | 35 | +39 | 72 | Qualification for theChampions League second qualifying round |
| 3 | AZ | 34 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 75 | 41 | +34 | 71 | Qualification for theEuropa League play-off round |
| 4 | Vitesse | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 52 | 38 | +14 | 61 | Qualification for theEuropa Conference League third qualifying round |
| 5 | Feyenoord(O) | 34 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 64 | 36 | +28 | 59 | Qualification for theEuropean competition play-offs[a] |
| 6 | Utrecht | 34 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 52 | 41 | +11 | 53 | |
| 7 | Groningen | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 40 | 37 | +3 | 50 | |
| 8 | Sparta Rotterdam | 34 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 49 | 48 | +1 | 47 | |
| 9 | Heracles Almelo | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 42 | 53 | −11 | 44 | |
| 10 | Twente | 34 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 48 | 50 | −2 | 41 | |
| 11 | Fortuna Sittard | 34 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 50 | 58 | −8 | 41 | |
| 12 | Heerenveen | 34 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 39 | |
| 13 | PEC Zwolle | 34 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 44 | 53 | −9 | 38 | |
| 14 | Willem II | 34 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 40 | 68 | −28 | 31 | |
| 15 | RKC Waalwijk | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 33 | 55 | −22 | 30 | |
| 16 | Emmen(R) | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 40 | 68 | −28 | 30 | Qualification for theRelegation play-offs[b] |
| 17 | VVV-Venlo(R) | 34 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 43 | 91 | −48 | 23 | Relegation toEerste Divisie |
| 18 | ADO Den Haag(R) | 34 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 29 | 76 | −47 | 22 |
| Home \ Away | ADO | AJA | AZ | EMM | FEY | FOR | GRO | HEE | HER | PEC | PSV | RKC | SPA | TWE | UTR | VIT | VVV | WIL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADO Den Haag | 2–4 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | |
| Ajax | 5–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | |
| AZ | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 5–3 | |
| Emmen | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–5 | 1–1 | |
| Feyenoord | 4–2 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 6–0 | 5–0 | |
| Fortuna Sittard | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 3–2 | |
| Groningen | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | |
| Heerenveen | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | |
| Heracles Almelo | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | |
| PEC Zwolle | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | |
| PSV Eindhoven | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | |
| RKC Waalwijk | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| Sparta Rotterdam | 6–0 | 0–1 | 4–4 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–5 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | |
| Twente | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | |
| Utrecht | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–2 | |
| Vitesse | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | |
| VVV-Venlo | 1–2 | 0–13 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | |
| Willem II | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 0–6 | 1–3 | 2–1 |
| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADO Den Haag | L | L | L | W | L | D | L | L | L | D | D | D | L | L | W | L | L | D | L | D | D | D | L | D | L | L | L | L | D | L | W | W | L | L |
| Ajax | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | D | D | W | W | W | W | W | D | W | W | D | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| AZ | D | D | D | D | D | D | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | D | W | W | W | L | L | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | D | W |
| Emmen | L | L | D | D | D | L | L | L | L | L | L | D | D | L | L | L | L | D | L | L | L | L | W | W | D | D | D | W | W | W | L | L | W | W |
| Feyenoord | W | D | W | W | D | D | W | W | W | D | D | W | L | W | W | W | L | L | L | W | D | W | D | L | W | D | D | W | W | D | L | L | D | W |
| Fortuna Sittard | L | L | D | L | D | L | L | D | L | L | W | W | D | W | W | L | W | L | W | W | L | W | W | L | L | W | L | L | L | W | W | L | D | L |
| Groningen | L | W | L | W | D | W | W | L | D | W | W | W | W | L | D | W | D | L | W | L | D | W | D | W | L | D | L | W | L | L | L | W | D | L |
| Heerenveen | W | W | W | D | L | W | W | L | D | D | D | D | L | L | L | D | D | L | W | D | W | L | D | L | W | L | D | L | W | L | D | D | L | L |
| Heracles Almelo | W | L | D | L | L | D | W | L | L | L | D | L | W | W | L | W | L | W | D | W | W | L | L | D | W | W | D | L | W | L | W | D | D | L |
| PEC Zwolle | L | D | W | D | L | D | L | D | D | D | W | L | D | W | D | L | L | W | D | D | D | L | L | W | L | L | W | L | W | W | L | L | L | W |
| PSV Eindhoven | W | W | D | W | W | L | W | W | D | W | D | W | W | W | D | L | W | W | W | L | W | D | W | D | W | D | L | W | W | W | D | W | W | D |
| RKC Waalwijk | L | L | L | D | W | D | L | L | D | W | W | L | L | L | L | D | D | L | L | D | D | W | W | D | L | L | W | L | L | L | L | D | W | L |
| Sparta Rotterdam | L | L | L | D | D | D | L | W | W | L | W | W | L | W | L | W | L | L | D | D | W | L | L | L | D | W | D | W | L | W | W | W | D | W |
| Twente | W | D | W | D | W | L | W | W | D | L | W | L | W | L | W | L | D | L | D | D | L | W | D | D | D | L | D | L | L | L | L | D | L | W |
| Utrecht | D | D | W | D | D | W | L | L | D | D | D | L | D | W | D | L | W | W | W | D | D | W | W | L | W | L | W | W | L | W | W | D | D | D |
| Vitesse | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | D | W | L | D | W | L | W | W | W | W | L | D | L | L | L | W | W | W | D | W | D | D | W | L | D | L |
| VVV-Venlo | W | D | L | L | D | L | L | W | L | D | L | L | L | L | W | W | D | W | W | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | D | L | L |
| Willem II | L | W | D | L | L | D | L | L | W | L | L | L | L | D | L | L | D | L | L | W | D | L | L | W | D | W | D | L | L | W | L | L | W | W |
For both play-offs, who plays who, is not decided based on draws, but the brackets are fully preset based on seeds. The seeds are assigned based on the final ranking after the regular season. The best ranked team will get the highest seed (lowest number). Eredivisie teams are considered to be better ranked than eerste divisie teams.
Contrary to previous years, all rounds are no longer two legs (home and away) but a single leg. The team with the best seed will get the home advantage.
If a match is leveled at the end of the normal playing time, extra time will be played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winners.
The four best ranked teams without a European tournament ticket will play for one spot in the2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round. The highest seeded team will always play at home.
| Team | Rank | seed |
|---|---|---|
| Feyenoord | 5 | 1 |
| Utrecht | 6 | 2 |
| Groningen | 7 | 3 |
| Sparta Rotterdam | 8 | 4 |
| Semifinals(19 May)[26] | Final(23 May)[26] | ||||||||
| 1 | Feyenoord | 2 | |||||||
| 4 | Sparta Rotterdam | 0 | |||||||
| 1 | Feyenoord | 2 | |||||||
| 2 | Utrecht | 0 | |||||||
| 2 | Utrecht | 1 | |||||||
| 3 | Groningen | 0 | |||||||
| 19 May 2021 | Utrecht | 1–0 | Groningen | Utrecht |
| 18:45CEST |
| Report | Stadium:Galgenwaard Attendance: 3,000 Referee:Danny Makkelie |
| 19 May 2021 | Feyenoord | 2–0 | Sparta Rotterdam | Rotterdam |
| 21:00CEST |
| Report | Stadium:De Kuip Attendance: 6,500 Referee:Jochem Kamphuis |
| 23 May 2021 | Feyenoord | 2–0 | Utrecht | Rotterdam |
| 12:15CEST |
| Report | Stadium:De Kuip Attendance: 6,500 Referee: Dennis Higler |
Seven teams, six from the2020–21 Eerste Divisie and one from the Eredivisie, will play for a spot in the2021–22 Eredivisie. The remaining six teams will play in the2021–22 Eerste Divisie. The highest seeded team or the team from the Eredivisie will always play at home.
| Team | Rank | seed |
|---|---|---|
| Emmen | 16 | 1 |
| De Graafschap | 3 | 2 |
| Almere City | 4 | 3 |
| NAC Breda | 5 | 4 |
| Volendam | 6 | 5 |
| N.E.C. | 7 | 6 |
| Roda JC | 8 | 7 |
| First round(15 May)[27] | Semifinals(20 May)[28] | Final(23 May)[29] | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Emmen | 1 (3) | ||||||||||||
| 4 | NAC Breda (p) | 1 (4) | ||||||||||||
| 4 | NAC Breda | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Volendam | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | NAC Breda | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | N.E.C. | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Almere City | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | N.E.C. | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | N.E.C. | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Roda JC | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | De Graafschap | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Roda JC | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 15 May 2021 | NAC Breda | 4–1 | Volendam | Breda |
| 16:30CEST | Report |
| Stadium:Rat Verlegh Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee:Pol van Boekel |
| 15 May 2021 | De Graafschap | 2–3 | Roda JC | Doetinchem |
| 18:45CEST |
| Report | Stadium:De Vijverberg Attendance: 0 Referee: Edwin van de Graaf |
| 15 May 2021 | Almere City | 0–4 | N.E.C. | Almere |
| 21:00CEST | Report | Stadium:Yanmar Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee:Kevin Blom |
| 20 May 2021 | N.E.C. | 3–0 | Roda JC | Nijmegen |
| 18:45CEST | Report | Stadium:Stadion de Goffert Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Jeroen Manschot |
| 20 May 2021 | Emmen | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–4p) | NAC Breda | Emmen |
| 21:00CEST | Report |
| Stadium:De Oude Meerdijk Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Allard Lindhout | |
| Penalties | ||||
| 23 May 2021 | NAC Breda | 1–2 | N.E.C. | Breda |
| 18:00CEST |
| Report | Stadium:Rat Verlegh Stadion Attendance: 2,500 Referee:Björn Kuipers |
| Rank | Player | Club | Games | Goals | Penalties | Avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VVV-Venlo | 30 | 26 | 8 | 0.87 | |
| 2 | PSV Eindhoven | 32 | 19 | 0 | 0.59 | |
| 3 | Feyenoord | 31 | 18 | 8 | 0.58 | |
| 4 | Twente | 33 | 17 | 5 | 0.52 | |
| 5 | Heracles Almelo | 33 | 16 | 3 | 0.48 | |
| 6 | AZ | 31 | 15 | 0 | 0.48 | |
| AZ | 31 | 7 | 0.48 | |||
| 8 | Heerenveen | 31 | 14 | 1 | 0.45 | |
| Sparta Rotterdam | 34 | 4 | 0.41 | |||
| Ajax | 34 | 7 | 0.41 |
Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2021.
Source: nos.nl[30]
| Rnd | Player | Club | Goals | Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VVV-Venlo | 50', 65' (p), 72' | 13 September 2020 | Emmen | 3–5 | VVV-Venlo | |
| 6 | Ajax | 17', 32', 54', 65', 87' | 24 October 2020 | VVV-Venlo | 0–13 | Ajax | |
| 7 | Heracles Almelo | 2', 63', 71' | 1 November 2020 | Heracles Almelo | 4–1 | Utrecht | |
| 14 | Feyenoord | 48', 58', 90+1' | 23 December 2020 | Feyenoord | 3–0 | Heerenveen | |
| 16 | VVV-Venlo | 6' (p), 58', 68', 86' (p) | 13 January 2021 | ADO Den Haag | 1–4 | VVV-Venlo | |
| 16 | Heracles Almelo | 26', 44', 64' | 12 January 2021 | Heracles Almelo | 4–0 | Emmen | |
| 18 | PEC Zwolle | 58', 62', 70' (p) | 22 January 2021 | Willem II | 1–3 | PEC Zwolle | |
| 19 | VVV-Venlo | 16', 28', 43', 79' | 27 January 2021 | VVV-Venlo | 4–1 | Vitesse | |
| 24 | AZ | 22', 41', 64' | 28 February 2021 | AZ | 4–2 | Feyenoord | |
| 30 | Emmen | 58' (p), 89', 90+1' | 25 April 2021 | Emmen | 3–1 | Heracles Almelo | |
| 31 | Heracles Almelo | 35', 55', 83' (p) | 1 May 2021 | Heracles Almelo | 4–0 | VVV-Venlo |
Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2021.
| Rank | Player | Club | Games | Assists | Avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ajax | 34 | 17 | 0.5 | |
| 2 | Feyenoord | 31 | 13 | 0.42 | |
| 3 | Willem II | 34 | 11 | 0.32 | |
| 4 | Heerenveen | 31 | 10 | 0.32 | |
| 5 | Vitesse | 29 | 9 | 0.31 | |
| AZ | 32 | 0.28 | |||
| 7 | VVV-Venlo | 31 | 8 | 0.26 | |
| PSV Eindhoven | 31 | 0.26 | |||
| Ajax | 32 | 0.25 | |||
| PSV Eindhoven | 32 | 0.25 |
Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2021.
Source: nos.nl[31]
Source: nos.nl[31]
| Award | Player | Club | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player of the Season | Ajax | [41] | |
| Talent of the Season | |||
| Goal of the Season | Feyenoord |