Last season’s Eredivisie campaign saw three sides tumble into the Eerste Divisie: FC Volendam slipped out via the playoffs, while NAC Breda and Heracles Almelo were automatically relegated after finishing 17th and 18th. Heracles ended on 19 points, Breda 29, and Volendam 32. The previous year, Almere City (22), RKC Waalwijk (25), and Willem II (26) went down — showing that any team failing to reach the 30‑point mark is in danger. Will Burns takes a deep dive into who might fall under that threshold this season.
WHO’S GONNA BE RELEGATED?
I think TELSTAR will go down this season and they are priced at 3.40 with Bet365.
Why do I think this about the side in 14th last season? Well, the club approaches the new season worryingly in full transition mode, reshaping both its technical staff and on‑field identity while bracing for a demanding fight for survival. The devastating personnel losses, especially the departure of manager Anthony Correia, now managing FC Utrecht, was a major blow, as the squad was specifically constructed to fit his unique tactical system.
Key departures have stripped away much of their stability. Guus Offerhaus, Tyrese Noslin and Danny Bakker have all moved on, and the Correia blueprint is unlikely to function as effectively under Henk Brugge’s new approach — especially given that last season’s success was widely viewed as an overachievement. They finished 14th with 37 points, pulling off shock wins over PSV home and away, but without another season of punching above their weight, their thin squad and limited quality make a drop back to the second tier a real possibility.
Financial constraints only deepen the challenge: Telstar operate on a modest budget and are routinely forced to gamble on hidden gems from amateur football or youth setups, leaving them at a clear disadvantage. Although they do have some pieces to work with. Portuguese forward Rui Mendes comes in from FC Groningen after strong experience with FC Emmen. Attacking left‑back Prince Aning, brought in from Borussia Dortmund II, looks like he could become a real breakout performer this season. There’s optimism around striker Sem van Duijn too — five goals in 14 matches last year, and he needed only 23 attempts to get them. Behind him is Milan Zonneveld, who chipped in with seven goals across 23 appearances in all competitions.
Pre‑season wasn’t kind: defeats to Almere City (2–1), Sparta Rotterdam (1–0) and Wolfsburg (3–1), with a chaotic 6–3 win over De Graafschap the lone bright spot. That run suggests defensive frailties remain, but they clearly have enough attacking threat to trouble teams. They open up their campaign with their first four away games looking tough: NEC, Ajax, Twente then AZ. With potentially zero points out of 12 from those games, they could be facing the south of the table early on, and it may be difficult to recover.
Bouncing back into the Eredivisie after a years’ absence, WILLEM II with a storyline shaped by resilience, renewed ambition, and a touch of unpredictability. It was a surprise promotion after starting last season in disastrous form but clawed their way back, ultimately earning their place through a dramatic play‑off run capped by a penalty shootout win over FC Volendam. Bet365 think this was a fluke and price them at a short 1.83.
Financially, they are in a stronger position than several fellow newcomers. Their resources give them a better chance of staying up than clubs like Cambuur, provided they invest wisely in the final stretch of the window. Not everything around the club has been smooth, though. During the play‑offs, head coach John Stegemann drew criticism for repeatedly complaining about the competition format, a stance the panel felt did little to enhance the club’s public image.
Even so, Willem II’s core identity remains intact. The team is still seen as a lively, welcoming club with an excellent stadium atmosphere — a place where supporters feel at home and where the Eredivisie feels just a bit more vibrant with their return.
It’s been three seasons since SC CAMBUUR (2.20 at Bet365) were in the Dutch top flight and I think they could be leaving again come May. They walk into the new season under heavy pressure and with a sense of vulnerability. Promotion wasn’t just a sporting goal — it was a financial necessity. Their new stadium, originally planned as a major step forward, became dramatically more expensive due to global instability, leaving the club in a difficult position where top‑flight survival is tied directly to economic stability.
Cambuur’s financial troubles have already hampered their ability to strengthen the squad — most notably, they were reportedly unable to meet the contract demands needed to keep standout performer Mark Diemers. Their promotion may have aligned perfectly with the stadium project, but sportively it came at the worst possible moment: they simply don’t have the resources to build a squad capable of competing at Eredivisie level.
On the pitch, the warning signs are even more glaring. Questions around leadership and long‑term direction persist, and it really seems to be if they did stay up it would require something bordering on a freak, against‑all‑logic escape. Although whether they have enough scoring power to give themselves a chance is highly debatable.
Three players have arrived from Ajax: 20‑year‑old striker Skye Vink and 19‑year‑old left‑back Lucas Jetten signed on permanent deals while 20‑year‑old midfielder Ryan van de Pavert on loan. Vink is viewed as a promising forward with the ambition to become a starter, though there are genuine doubts about whether he can deliver the 10–12 goals usually required to help a newly promoted side survive. Jetten, an attacking left‑back with 60 Eerste Divisie appearances for Jong Ajax, will see this move as his chance to prove himself at a higher level. Van de Pavert adds further potential in midfield, arriving as a developing central option with room to grow.
The coaching structure is identified as a potential source of unrest. Johan Plat is the head coach, but club icon Henk de Jong serves as his assistant. I think this could create a difficult environment for Plat. If the team loses a few matches, and sit drop the bottom of the league, the supporters will likely immediately begin calling for De Jong to take over, making it nearly impossible for Plat to establish his own authority.
Yet amid the pessimism, the new stadium itself as it will be a fantastic addition to the league, and that Saturday‑night home matches should still yield points thanks to the atmosphere and energy it brings. Cambuur may face one of the toughest battles in the division, but their home ground could offer just enough spark to keep the fight alive.
| 🇳🇱EREDIVISIE – TO BE RELEGATED🇳🇱 ⚽ Telstar to be Relegated 💷 1pt Best Odds: 3.40 at Bet365 |
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