Tweede Divisie

The Tweede Divisie is the Netherlands' highest amateur football league and ranks third overall in the football pyramid, behind the Eredivisie (1st division) and Eerste Divisie (2nd division). Founded in 1956, the competition was canceled in 1971 but reestablished by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) in 2016 to bridge the gap between amateur and professional football.

The league runs from August to May and follows a double round-robin format, with teams playing each other twice (home and away).

While the Tweede Divisie has a promotion/relegation system, the champion does not always move up to the Eerste Divisie, primarily due to the financial challenges faced by amateur clubs in the professional second division. Consequently, in 2022, the organizers suspended mandatory promotion to the Eerste Divisie for 5-10 years, though this does not apply to reserve teams.

A reserve team can be promoted to the Eerste Divisie and take the place of another reserve side, either directly or through a playoff based on their final standings.

The lowest-ranked non-reserve team is automatically relegated to the Derde Divisie, the Netherlands' fourth division. The two non-reserve teams that finish second and third from last compete with the Derde Divisie’s period champions in the relegation playoffs, where only one team can secure survival in the Tweede Divisie or earn promotion.

Additionally, Tweede Divisie reserve teams may be relegated to an Under-21 league based on their performance. If the last-placed reserve team finishes 17th or 18th, they are automatically relegated. Finishing between 10th and 16th results in a playoff, while if the lowest-ranked reserve team places in the top nine, no relegation or promotion occurs between these two divisions.