Eredivisie (men's handball)

The Nederlandse Handbal Eredivisie is the top Dutch professional handball league. The winners of the Eredivisie are recognised as the Dutch handball champions.

Eredivisie
Current season, competition or edition:
2019–20 season
Countries Netherlands
ConfederationEHF
Founded1954
Number of teams12 (+6)
Level on pyramidLevel 1
International cup(s)Champions League
EHF Cup
Current championsHV Aalsmeer
Most championshipsSittardia (20 titles)
WebsiteWebsite

Competition Format

In the first phase of the season, the top 6 teams (of previous season) participate in the BENE-League competition. They are joined by the top 6 teams from Belgium. At the same time, the remaining 12 teams, participate in a national competition. In the second phase, the 4 best ranking Dutch teams of the BENE-League, who automatically qualified for next seasons BENE-League, compete in a 2-round system for the national title. The first round is a full competition among those 4. In the second round the 2 teams which ended on top, decide in a best-of-three who wins the title. In the final ranking these teams end up on ranks 1 to 4. The 2 lowest ranking Dutch teams of the BENE-League, together with the 2 best ranking teams of the national competition, compete in a full competition, for 2 spots in next seasons BENE-League. In the final ranking these teams end up on ranks 5 to 8. The teams which ended 3 to 10 in the national competition play a 3-round system to decide their final ranking (ranks 9 to 16). Something like a knock-out system with the major difference that losing a match doesn't mean you get eliminated but you continue for the lower ranks, where winning means you continue for the better ranks. So the teams winning in first round continue for the final ranks 9 to 12 and those losing for the ranks 13 to 16. The same principle is repeated in the second round and final ranks are decided in the third round. Last but not least, the 2 teams who ended at the bottom of the national competition, together with 4 period winners of the Eerste Divisie compete in a 2-round system for 1 spot in next seasons Eredivisie. In the first round the 6 teams are split in 2 groups of 3 in such a way that the 2 Eredivisie teams are never in the same group. In each group the 3 teams play a full competition. The winners of both groups decide in a best-of-two who plays next season in the Eredivisie. The final spot in the Eredivisie is taken by the champions of the Eerste Divisie.

Eredivisie previous champions
Club Titles Year
1.Sittardia181966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999
2.HV Aalsmeer101954, 1985, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2018, 2019
3.Handbal Volendam72005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
4.E&O Emmen51989, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
Vlug en Lenig51982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 2002
6.Operatie '5541962, 1963, 1964, 1965
7.Olympia Hengelo31956, 1957, 1958
Blauw-Wit Neerbeek31980, 1981, 1988
Limburg Lions32015, 2016, 2017
10.NILOC Amsterdam21960, 1961
11.PSV Handbal11955
DES Eindhoven11959
ESCA Arnhem11967
Hermes Den Haag11978
Hellas Den Haag12008
Bevo HC12014

EHF coefficient ranking
For season 2017/2018[1]

References
  1. (PDF). European Handball Federation.
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