Netherlands · Tier 2
Eerste Divisie
In US-sports termsThe Dutch second tier, with a twist the US would love: they split the season into four quarters and hand out a mini-title for each one.
What it is
The Netherlands' second tier — 20 clubs, and home to the reserve teams of some bigger clubs alongside proper old names rebuilding.
How you get in
Relegated from the Eredivisie, or promoted from below.
What it feeds
Champion and runner-up go up automatically. Six more clubs enter the Nacompetitie play-offs — the four period champions (best record in each quarter of the season) plus the two best-placed clubs who didn't win one. The Eredivisie's 16th-placed club drops into that bracket to defend its place.
Period titles are the fun part: win any one quarter of the season and you get a play-off ticket, even if the rest of your year is ordinary.