1979–80 Eerste Divisie
The Dutch Eerste Divisie in the 1979–80 season was contested by 19 teams. FC Groningen won the championship.
New entrants
Relegated from the 1978–79 EredivisieDordrecht changed their name to DS '79 this season
''Fortuna SC changed their name to Fortuna Sittard this season''
Promotion competition
In the promotion competition, four period winners played for promotion to the Eredivisie.Attendances
| # | Club | Average |
| 1 | Groningen | 9,861 |
| 2 | DS '79 | 6,994 |
| 3 | Cambuur | 5,906 |
| 4 | Den Bosch | 5,133 |
| 5 | Wageningen | 4,022 |
| 6 | Volendam | 3,850 |
| 7 | De Graafschap | 3,794 |
| 8 | Heerenveen | 3,489 |
| 9 | Heracles | 3,483 |
| 10 | Veendam | 3,244 |
| 11 | VVV | 3,114 |
| 12 | Eindhoven | 3,028 |
| 13 | Fortuna | 2,911 |
| 14 | Helmond | 2,803 |
| 15 | Telstar | 1,561 |
| 16 | Vlaardingen | 1,483 |
| 17 | SVV | 1,419 |
| 18 | Amersfoort | 1,211 |
| 19 | Amsterdam | 962 |
Source: