Eredivisie action returns on Friday, August 8, 2025, with PSV chasing a third straight title. As defending champions, they enter as favourites. Rivals Ajax and Feyenoord will also look to challenge for the title this year. The traditional big three are set for another exciting battle. Can anyone halt PSV’s dominance? Our 25/26 Eredivisie season betting guide breaks down the top contenders for this exciting new campaign.
The 70th edition of the Dutch Eredivisie kicks off on Friday, August 8, 2025, with Fortuna Sittard facing GA Eagles. The league will span nine months and wrap up on May 24, 2026. The traditional big three will play at home in the first round of fixtures. This includes the reigning champions PSV, who begin their title defence against Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | Dutch Eredivisie Season 2025/26 (VriendenLoterij Eredivisie) |
| ⚽️ Venues: | Stadiums Across the Netherlands |
| 🗓️ Dates: | 8 August 2025 – 24 May 2026 |
The Netherlands’ top football division features 18 clubs competing in a double round-robin format. Each team plays every other club twice, home and away. The club with the highest points is crowned champion when the season ends. The top two finishers qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage, while the third-placed team enters the qualifying rounds.
The fourth-placed side qualifies for the Europa League playoffs, while the fifth to eighth places go to the European Playoffs to decide a Conference League qualifier. The two last-placed teams are automatically relegated to the Eerste Divisie. The Eerste Divisie champion and runner-up earn automatic promotion, while the 16th Eredivisie club enters promotion/relegation playoffs.
Telstar, after 47 years away from Dutch top-flight football, won promotion via Relegation playoffs, beating Willem II 5-3 on aggregate. Excelsior secured promotion as Eerste Divisie runner-up, while FC Volendam earned its place by winning the Eerste Divisie title.
The Dutch top-flight league is officially called VriendenLoterij Eredivisie for sponsorship purposes. It was established in 1956, two years after professional football began in the Netherlands. PSV’s Coen Dillen still holds the record for most goals in a single season after netting 43 in 1956. Despite the player’s feat, Ajax was crowned the league’s first-ever champions that same season.
Ajax leads with 36 league titles, PSV with 26, and Feyenoord with 16. These three have long dominated Dutch football and are known as the “traditional top three.” From 1981 to 2009, no team outside this trio claimed the title. That changed in 2009 when AZ Alkmaar broke the cycle. FC Twente followed in 2010, winning their first championship.
UEFA ranks Eredivisie sixth in Europe, ahead of the Portuguese and Belgian leagues. It’s globally respected for producing stars like Cruijff, van Basten, Robben, and van Persie through elite youth development programs.
Here are the last five winners of the Eredivisie:
Before offering our Season predictions for the Dutch Eredivisie 25/26, let’s examine the leading title contenders. Eredivisie odds have released outright odds for every team in the league. Here, we analyse the chances of the top five clubs expected to challenge for glory this campaign.
PSV edged Ajax to defend their Eredivisie crown in a thrilling season finale. It was their 26th league title and 11th since 2001, more than any Dutch club this century. Peter Bosz’s side was nine points behind Ajax with five games to go, but maintained their edge to win the title. They finished with 79 points, just one ahead of Ajax. Bosz, now with back-to-back titles in his first two seasons, joins Ronald Koeman and Frank de Boer as managers to achieve that feat. He will aim for a historic third straight triumph this season, with PSV again favoured to lift the trophy. Online bookies in Netherlands position them as top favourites, giving them the best 2025–26 Eredivisie winner odds heading into the new season.
Ajax came close to reclaiming the Eredivisie title last season but fell short. A costly draw in the penultimate round saw them finish one point behind PSV. With 36 titles, they remain the league’s most successful club. Key forwards Oliver Edvardson and Wout Weghorst hit double digits last season and could be instrumental to this title charge. Ajax have won two of the previous five Eredivisie titles, and look poised for another strong title push under new manager, Johnny Heitinga. A two-horse race seems likely, but Ajax looks stronger as PSV has lost key players in the summer transfer window.
After losing Arne Slot to Liverpool last summer, Feyenoord struggled to mount a title challenge. They ended last season in third place, going through three different managers during the campaign. Robin van Persie, who joined in February, begins his first full season in charge. The former club legend brings passion and experience from his time at Heerenveen. Feyenoord remains the only team outside Ajax and PSV to win the title in eight years. They could repeat their 2022 success with stability, though surpassing the top two remains challenging. However, most 25/26 Eredivisie season predictions rank them among the top contenders.
AZ Alkmaar had an up-and-down season, mixing unbeaten streaks with a frustrating month of winless runs. They finished fifth in the league and will aim for a stronger finish this time. They reached the KNVB Cup final, beating Ajax en route, but lost to Go Ahead Eagles. In Europe, they impressed with big home wins over Roma, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Spurs in a quarter-final leg. These results show they can compete with the best and prove their title credentials. AZ could capitalise and chase a third Eredivisie title this season, with Ajax and Feyenoord transitioning under new managers.
FC Twente dropped from third in 2023/24 to sixth last season, ten points behind fourth-placed Utrecht. After a mixed campaign, they lost 3-2 to AZ Alkmaar in the play-off final to miss European football. Consistency, especially in big matches, could boost their chances this term. Despite losing star man Sem Steijn to Feyenoord, they’ve retained key players like Michal SadĂlek and Sam Lammers. Finding an adequate replacement for Steijn’s 31 goals will be vital for a strong comeback, as another dark horse rated by several football season betting sites.
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Ajax finished second last season, narrowly missing the title by one point. They led by nine with five games left but went winless in four, costing them a record 37th crown. Still, it was a major leap from fifth in 2023/2024, thanks to a board overhaul and Farioli’s defensive improvements. Notably, PSV’s star men last season, Malik Tillman, Noa Lang, and Johan Bakayoko, have left the team without adequate cover. This could give Johnny Heitinga’s side the edge needed to get over the line this time and finally reclaim domestic glory this season. Most 25-26 Eredivisie predictions consider them top favorites for this title.
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AZ Alkmaar endured an inconsistent 2024/2025 season, combining strong unbeaten runs with winless spells. They finished fifth in the league but reached the KNVB Cup final and round 16 of the Europa League. Deep runs in cup competitions prove their resilience, which could translate to a challenge in the upcoming season. Troy Parrott led with 14 league goals, supported by Koopmeiners and Van Bommel’s eight goal contributions. Retaining this trio is vital as AZ aim to challenge the traditional giants and potentially spring a title surprise.
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FC Utrecht has consistently placed in the Eredivisie top six since Erik ten Hag’s era. Under Ron Jans, they rose to fourth last season, their best finish since 1991. They ended four points behind Feyenoord and miles ahead of AZ and Twente. Impressively, they suffered only one away defeat all season. They look strong with key players retained and signings like Cathline and Rodriguez secured. Despite losing top scorer Paxten Aaronson (returns to Eintracht after the loan), Utrecht remains a serious contender to break into the top three.
Our best Dutch Eredivisie predictions 2025/26 are:
Ajax’s near miss last year and league experience as the most successful team in the division could fuel their title ambition this year. To win extra cash, leverage our betting tips to select the best 2025–26 Eredivisie odds on your favourite bookies.
