The Hoofdklasse is the highest league of amateur women's football in the Netherlands

Football in the Netherlands

Football is the most popular Sport in the Netherlands. Football was introduced to the Netherlands by Pim Mulier in the 19th century when in 1879, at the age of 14, he founded Haarlemsche Football Club...

, and the second tier in general.

When the Hoofdklasse was created in 1973, the league was the top level league of the Netherlands, and the winner was named the national champion. After the 2006/07 season, the professional Eredivisie

Eredivisie (women)

Starting in 2007, the Eredivisie is the first professional football league for women in the Netherlands. Unlike its male equivalent, the Eredivisie for women is smaller currently featuring only eight teams....

 was established as the top level league which now plays out the championship.

There was no relegation and promotion between those two leagues..

In the 2011/12 season the Hoofdklasse became a third level league, as above it the Topklasse

Topklasse (women)

The Theklasse is the highest league of amateur women's football in the Netherlands, and the second tier in general.In the 2011/12 season the Hoofdklasse became a third level league, as above it the Topklasse was created...

 was created. The Hoffdklasse thus is the second highest amateur league and now promotes teams to the Topklasse.

Format

From 1973 to 1994, the Hoofdklasse was Championship Playoff between regional champions. Mostly consisting of 6 regional champions that would play each other once. The winner of the group becoming the champion of the Netherlands. Since the 1994-95 season the Hoofdklasse was played nationwide as a 12 team league.

The teams play each other 2 times over the course of the season.

The last two teams get relegated into the Eerste Klasse.

Hoofdklasse champions since 1973

The list of champions:

1973/74: VV Reutum 1974/75: Osdorp Amsterdam 1975/76: Blauw Wit Amsterdam 1976/77: RKSV Braakhuizen 1977/78: Sint Hubert 1978/79: Alkmania Roelofarendsveen 1979/80: RKSV Braakhuizen 1980/81: RKSV Braakhuizen 1981/82: Puck Deventer 1982/83: RKTVC Tiel 1983/84: Groote Lindt Zwihndrecht

1984/85: UD Weerselo 1985/86: KFC '71 Delft 1986/87: RKSV Braakhuizen 1987/88: RKTVC Tiel 1988/89: KFC '71 Delft 1989/90: Rijsoord 1990/91: Den Dungen 1991/92: Den Dungen 1992/93: Den Dungen 1993/94: Den Dungen 1994/95: Den Dungen

1995/96: SV Saestum SV Saestum SV Saestum is a sports club from Zeist, Netherlands.It is most known for its successful women's football team.- History :Der club was founded on 6 January 1926... 1996/97: SV Saestum 1997/98: SV Saestum 1998/99: SV Saestum 1999/00: SV Saestum 2000/01: VV Ter Leede 2001/02: SV Saestum 2002/03: VV Ter Leede 2003/04: VV Ter Leede 2004/05: SV Saestum 2005/06: SV Saestum 2006/07: VV Ter Leede

Winners of the Hoofdklasse since 2007

The winner is no more the champion of the Netherlands.

• 2007-08: SV Saestum
  SV Saestum
  SV Saestum is a sports club from Zeist, Netherlands.It is most known for its successful women's football team.- History :Der club was founded on 6 January 1926...
  
  
• 2008-09: Ter Leede Sassenheim
  Ter Leede
  Ter Leede is a football club based in Sassenheim, Netherlands. The club was established on 30 April 1930, as a merger of the clubs Poellaan and Roda....
  
  
• 2009-10: Ter Leede Sassenheim
• 2010-11: RCL

External links

• Hoofdklasse at women.soccerway.com
• Website about women's football, (standings, pairings,..)