Live Dutch Eerste Divisie TV & Broadcast Schedule

The Dutch Eerste Divisie is the second tier of professional soccer in the Netherlands. It's a 20-team league that runs from August through May. The league is known for its unique structure — four of the teams are reserve sides of Eredivisie clubs (Ajax, PSV, AZ, and Utrecht). The season is in the final stretch, with promotion and relegation battles heating up.

Top teams

The Eerste Divisie is a mix of traditional clubs and youth academies. ADO Den Haag, De Graafschap, FC Volendam, and NAC Breda are the biggest clubs currently in the division — all have Eredivisie history. The four reserve teams — Jong Ajax, Jong PSV, Jong AZ, and Jong FC Utrecht — are ineligible for promotion. They exist to develop young talent. The regular clubs are fighting for the top spot. The champion gets promoted directly. The next four go into a promotion playoff with the 16th-place team from the Eredivisie.

The Jong teams

The four Jong teams are a unique part of the Dutch system. They're the U23 sides of Ajax, PSV, AZ, and Utrecht. They play in the same league as the senior clubs. They can't get promoted. Their rosters are full of teenagers and young prospects. The system gives young players competitive matches against grown men. It's worked for years — most of the Dutch national team came through these academies. The Jong teams don't have the same fan base as the senior clubs, but they're competitive on the field.

Viewership

The Eerste Divisie pulls around 2 million viewers annually. The numbers are strongest in the cities where the traditional clubs are based. The promotion playoff games draw the biggest audiences. The Jong teams don't draw much TV interest, but they're watched by scouts and hardcore fans. The league doesn't have a huge international following, but it's a staple for Dutch soccer fans.

TV and streaming options in the Netherlands

ESPN Netherlands holds the exclusive rights to the Eerste Divisie. They show every match live on their streaming platform and cable channels. There's no free-to-air TV coverage for the regular season. The promotion playoff games sometimes show up on NOS, but that's rare. If you want to follow the league in the Netherlands, you need an ESPN subscription.

Streaming options in the US and Worldwide

For fans outside the Netherlands, there's no official international broadcast deal for the Eerste Divisie. The league isn't on ESPN+ or any global platform. Some matches show up on club YouTube channels, but that's not consistent. The Jong Ajax and Jong PSV matches sometimes stream on their parent clubs' channels. For most international fans, a VPN and an ESPN Netherlands subscription is the only way to watch. Betting sites also stream matches, but that's not a reliable option.

Current season

The 2025-26 Eerste Divisie season kicked off in August 2025. The regular season runs through May. ADO Den Haag and De Graafschap are sitting at the top of the table, pushing for direct promotion. FC Volendam and NAC Breda are close behind. The promotion playoff spots are up for grabs. Jong Ajax is leading the reserve teams but can't go up. The season wraps up in May, with the promotion playoffs running into early June.