2015–16 Eerste Divisie


The 2015–16 Eerste Divisie, known as Jupiler League for sponsorship reasons, is the sixtieth season of Eerste Divisie since its establishment in 1955. It began in August 2015 with the first matches of the season and ended in May 2016 with the finals of the promotion/relegation play-offs, also involving the 16th- and 17th-placed teams from the 2015–16 Eredivisie.
This season was the last where promotion and relegation was optional. No club was relegated to the new third-tier division Tweede Divisie. This change in the league system was approved in a KNVB assembly in December 2014. Thus, the Topklasse and leagues below it were reduced by one level, and furthermore, promotion and relegation between the Eerste Divisie and Tweede Divisie became mandatory from 2016–17.
WWW jupilerleague.nl

Teams

A total of 19 teams took part in the league. 2014–15 Eerste Divisie champion NEC gained promotion to the Eredivisie, and was replaced by Dordrecht, which finished last in the 2014–15 Eredivisie. Roda JC Kerkrade and De Graafschap won the post-season playoff, and were replaced in the 2015–16 Eerste Divisie by NAC Breda and Go Ahead Eagles. No teams were relegated, but Jong FC Twente voluntarily withdrew from the league.
ClubLocationVenueCapacity
Achilles '29GroesbeekSportpark De Heikant4,500
Jong AjaxAmsterdamSportpark De Toekomst4,000
Almere CityAlmereMitsubishi Forklift Stadion3,000
Den Bosch's-HertogenboschDe Vliert9,000
DordrechtDordrechtGN Bouw Stadion4,088
EindhovenEindhovenJan Louwers Stadion4,600
EmmenEmmenUnivé Stadion8,600
Fortuna SittardSittardTrendwork Arena12,500
Go Ahead EaglesDeventerAdelaarshorst8,000
Helmond SportHelmondStadion De Braak4,100
MVVMaastrichtDe Geusselt10,000
NAC BredaBredaRat Verlegh Stadion19,000
OssOssHeesen Yachts Stadion4,700
Jong PSVEindhovenDe Herdgang2,500
RKC WaalwijkWaalwijkMandemakers Stadion7,508
Sparta RotterdamRotterdamHet Kasteel11,026
TelstarVelsenTATA Steel Stadion3,625
VolendamVolendamKras Stadion6,260
VVV-VenloVenloDe Koel8,000

Play-offs

Promotion/relegation play-offs

Ten teams, two from the Eredivisie and eight from the Eerste Divisie, play for two spots in the 2016–17 Eredivisie, the remaining eight teams play in the 2016–17 Eerste Divisie.
Key: '* = Play-off winners, ' = Wins because of away goals rule, ' = Wins after extra time in second leg, ' = Wins after penalty shoot-out.

Attendances

#ClubAverage
1NAC13,959
2Go Ahead8,477
3Sparta7,841
4MVV4,227
5Volendam4,136
6VVV3,903
7Emmen3,280
8Den Bosch2,989
9Eindhoven2,613
10RKC2,150
11Helmond2,144
12Fortuna2,013
13Telstar1,956
14Dordrecht1,902
15Oss1,706
16Achilles1,578
17Almere1,287
18Jong PSV653
19Jong Ajax519

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