Ajax to face Feyenoord on Sept. 1; Eredivisie kicks off with FC Groningen-NAC in August

The match between Feyenoord and Ajax on Sunday, September 1, will be the first meeting between the traditional top clubs in the upcoming Eredivisie season. This can be seen in the 2024-25 season fixture list released on Wednesday by the KNVB, the Dutch football association.

Ajax and reigning champions PSV face each other two months later in Amsterdam on Saturday, November 2. The first match between KNVB Cup holders Feyenoord and PSV will be in Rotterdam on the last weekend before Christmas, on December 20, 21, or December 22.

It was announced on Tuesday that FC Groningen and NAC Breda will kick off the Eredivisie season on Friday, August 9. PSV will face RKC Waalwijk at home over the first weekend of the season. Feyenoord will play Willem II at home, while Ajax will start against SC Heerenveen in the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

As is the case before every season, the Johan Cruijff Schaal will be played the last weekend before the start of the Eredivisie. The winners of the previous season’s KNVB Cup and the Eredivisie face each other in a one-off game. PSV will face Feyenoord on August 4 in this match.

The KNVB will check whether the dates need to be adapted at the end of August due to Dutch clubs playing in European competitions. “This season, we have once again planned most matches between the top sides after the European football rounds. Sadly, we just cannot avoid that,” Manager of Competition Affairs Jan Bluyssen said on the KNVB’s website.

“This has to do with the limited space there is to create equal circumstances, also the risk factor of a number of these games and the obligation that they be played on Sunday. Additionally, the new design of the UEFA competitions will lead to more international matches and more pressure on the Eredivisie. This ensures that there are fewer spots to plan matches in with a certain risk factor.”