The Azerion Vrouwen Eredivisie is the highest level of women’s football in the Netherlands. Since 2007 six Dutch clubs battled for the title. Until in 2012 the league joined with the domestic league in Belgium, creating the BeNe League. That competition lasted for three years but in 2015 the Dutch decided to bring their own league back. It started out with six teams but there are now twelve clubs competing.
Football is huge in The Netherlands but mainly because the men’s national team did so well for many years. This changed when Sarina Wiegman led the Oranje Leeuwinnen to win the European Championship in 2017. The popularity of women’s football rose significantly. Enough for the KNVB to finally realise the Dutch women’s football league should have been taking seriously right from the start. Since the Azerion Vrouwen Eredivisie is under the KNVB.
History of Women’s Football in the Netherlands
Of course Dutch women’s football did not just start in 2007. In 1994 the “Hoofdklasse” for women launched. From that year until 2007 it was the highest competition in women’s football and it was quite successful.
The current number of 12 clubs is going to be maintained in the near future. If teams want to participate in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, they have to fight their way in via the Vrouwen Eerste Divisie. The second highest level of women’s football. Currently there are mostly B teams in the Vrouwen Eerste Divisie, from the clubs that are already active on the highest level. Sparta Rotterdam joined and NAC Breda and De Graafschap are expected to follow. FC Groningen started their preparations for a women’s football team but won’t join the league until 2026.
The success of Dutch women’s football clubs
The Dutch women’s football league is on the 10th place in the UEFA Ranking. Clubs like FC Twente and Ajax sometimes make their way into the Women’s Champions League. Only the winner and number two make their way into Round 1 of the qualifiers. FC Twente reached the group stage in the 2024/2025 season, like Ajax did the season before that.
Where can I watch the Azerion Vrouwen Eredivisie?
ESPN has a deal until 2030 to broadcast all the Vrouwen Eredivisie matches live.
