The Netherlands’ journey from coefficient mediocrity to European elite reads like a football redemption story—but one that’s still being written, with the ending far from certain. Understanding where Dutch football stands today requires examining not just the raw numbers, but the context behind them, the competition breathing down their necks, and the specific European campaigns that have shaped the current landscape.
This is the story of how the Eredivisie climbed back into Europe’s top six, the threats that could knock them back down, and why every European result over the next few seasons will determine whether this resurgence becomes a sustained era or merely a temporary peak.
The Dutch Coefficient Trajectory: Year by Year (2019-2024)
The Netherlands’ five-year progression tells a story of dramatic peaks, concerning valleys, and the constant pressure to maintain momentum:
2019-20: 9.400 Points – The Modest Beginning
This season represented a quiet start to the current five-year window. Ajax and AZ Alkmaar both reached the Europa League Round of 32 but couldn’t advance further. No Dutch club made significant noise in Europe, and the total reflected that underwhelming performance.
Key results:
- Ajax: Europa League Round of 32 (eliminated by Getafe)
- AZ Alkmaar: Europa League Round of 32 (eliminated by LASK)
- No Champions League participants
The 9.400 total was respectable but unremarkable. Dutch clubs were competing but not excelling, earning match points without the bonuses that come from deep runs. This season has now dropped out of the calculation as of summer 2025, replaced by the 2024-25 campaign.
2020-21: 9.200 Points – Marginal Regression
Marginally worse than the previous year, this season saw limited progression despite some promise. Ajax managed a Europa League quarter-final appearance—their best result of the campaign—while PSV reached the Last 16. However, with no Champions League participants and limited deep runs, the coefficient total remained stubbornly in single digits.
Key results:
- Ajax: Europa League quarter-finals (eliminated by Roma)
- PSV: Europa League Round of 16 (eliminated by Olympiacos)
- Feyenoord: Conference League group stage (failed to advance)
The 9.200 score highlighted a structural problem: Dutch clubs were qualifying for Europe but rarely going beyond the first knockout round. This was coefficient stagnation—earning enough points to stay relevant but not enough to climb the rankings.
2021-22: 19.200 Points – The Breakthrough
This remains one of the greatest single seasons in modern Eredivisie history from a coefficient perspective. Everything clicked simultaneously across multiple clubs, creating a perfect storm that vaulted the Netherlands up the rankings.
The heroics:
Ajax’s perfection: Delivered a flawless Champions League group stage with six wins from six matches against Sporting CP, Borussia Dortmund, and Beşiktaş. They earned maximum points (12 from matches plus substantial group stage bonuses) before reaching the Round of 16, where they were eventually eliminated by Benfica. This single campaign contributed roughly 5-6 points to the national coefficient.
Feyenoord’s final run: Captured hearts across Rotterdam with their journey to the Conference League final in Tirana. They won their group, defeated Partizan, Slavia Prague, and Marseille in the knockouts before falling to Roma in the final. The coefficient bonanza—match wins, group stage bonuses, knockout progression points—contributed approximately 4-5 points.
PSV’s contribution: Won their Conference League group and reached the quarter-finals before elimination. Solid, if not spectacular, they added crucial points to the collective effort.
AZ Alkmaar: Made the Conference League Round of 16, adding additional depth to the Dutch campaign.
Four different clubs all contributing substantially—that’s the recipe for a coefficient explosion. The 19.200 total was the second-highest in Europe that year, behind only England. This single season currently accounts for nearly 30% of the Netherlands’ five-year coefficient, which is both blessing and curse.
Why this season matters so much: It proved Dutch clubs could compete with Europe’s best when properly motivated and prepared. It also provided the points buffer that elevated the Netherlands to 6th place. But it’s also a ticking time bomb—after the 2025-26 season, these 19.200 points drop out of calculation, requiring replacement or facing a significant coefficient drop.
2022-23: 13.500 Points – Proving It Wasn’t a Fluke
A strong follow-up that demonstrated 2021-22 wasn’t an anomaly. While not reaching the same heights, Dutch clubs showed they could consistently produce quality European campaigns.
Key results:
- Feyenoord: Europa League quarter-finals, topped their group featuring Lazio and Midtjylland
- AZ Alkmaar: Conference League semi-finals, narrowly losing to eventual winners West Ham United
- Ajax: Mixed campaign, competed in Champions League but struggled
- PSV: Europa League group stage participation
The 13.500 total was excellent—well above the 9-10 point average that had characterized earlier seasons. AZ’s Conference League semi-final was particularly valuable, demonstrating that Dutch football’s depth had genuinely improved beyond just the traditional big three.
2023-24: 10.000 Points – The Reality Check
A sobering season that exposed vulnerabilities. No Dutch club advanced beyond a quarter-final in any competition, and several high-profile disappointments damaged the coefficient effort.
The struggles:
- Ajax: Nightmare domestic season combined with early Europa League knockout elimination
- Feyenoord: Competed in Champions League but finished 3rd in group, limited knockout success
- PSV: Champions League group stage but finished 4th, no knockout advancement
- AZ: Respectable but not exceptional Europa League campaign
The 10.000 total was respectable in isolation but represented a clear step backward from the previous two campaigns. More concerning was the pattern: Dutch clubs were reaching group stages but failing to advance deep into knockouts. Quarter-finals had become the ceiling rather than the floor.
This season worried Dutch football officials because it coincided with strong performances from Portugal (11.000 points) and Belgium (14.400 points), narrowing the gap and creating pressure.
2024-25: 15.250 Points – The Strong Rebound
A crucial recovery season that secured the Netherlands’ 6th place for the immediate future. All six Dutch entrants reached at least the league phase (except Go Ahead Eagles, who fell in Conference League qualifying), demonstrating improved collective quality.
Key results:
- PSV: First Dutch club to reach Champions League Round of 16 since Ajax in 2019 (eliminated in R16)
- Feyenoord: Champions League league phase, finished outside top 8, eliminated in knockout playoff
- AZ Alkmaar: Europa League Round of 16 (eliminated)
- Ajax: Europa League group stage but failed to advance
- FC Twente: Champions League qualifying failure, limited Europa League impact
The 15.250 total was excellent—higher than any Dutch season except the exceptional 2021-22. However, the spring knockout stages were disappointing: all four clubs that reached knockouts were eliminated by the Round of 16, winning just one of eight knockout matches collectively.
Dutch media labeled this “underwhelming,” and the criticism was fair. While the points total was strong, the lack of deep runs prevented the Netherlands from truly distancing themselves from Portugal and Belgium.
The Competitive Landscape: Portugal and Belgium
The battle for places 6-8 in the UEFA rankings has become one of European football’s most compelling sub-plots, with three nations separated by relatively small margins and very different profiles.
Portugal (7th, 56.316 Points) – The Immediate Threat
Portuguese football presents a fascinating contrast to the Dutch model. Their system is heavily top-loaded, with three giant clubs—Benfica, Porto, and Sporting CP—dominating domestically and carrying virtually all of the country’s European ambitions.
The Portuguese advantage:
- Deep European pedigree: Porto won the Champions League in 2004, Benfica regularly reaches knockouts
- Star power: Ability to attract South American and Brazilian talent creates quality depth
- Experience: Their big three have decades of Champions League experience
The Portuguese disadvantage:
- Top-heavy structure: When the big three underperform, there’s little support from smaller clubs
- Only five European spots: Fewer opportunities to accumulate points than Netherlands’ six
- Inconsistency: Can produce excellent seasons followed by disappointing ones
Recent trajectory: Portugal’s coefficient has been steadier than the Netherlands’. They haven’t had a 19-point explosion, but they also haven’t dipped below 10 points in recent seasons. Their consistency makes them dangerous—they’re always there, always competitive, always capable of an upset.
The 2024-25 season saw Portugal actually outscore the Netherlands with approximately 16.250 points to the Dutch 15.250. This was driven by strong Champions League performances from Benfica and Sporting CP, both of whom advanced further than their Dutch counterparts.
The gap: Just 5 points separate the Netherlands (67.150 after 2024-25) from Portugal (62.266). This is the equivalent of one strong Portuguese season combined with one weak Dutch season. If Benfica makes a Champions League semi-final while Ajax struggles in Europa League qualifying, that gap could close or reverse entirely.
Head-to-head implications: When Dutch and Portuguese clubs face each other, the coefficient implications are enormous. Every goal, every result affects both nations’ totals. Dutch fans found themselves in the strange position of supporting Benfica against non-Portuguese opposition in 2022-23, knowing their failures helped secure Netherlands’ 6th place.
Belgium (8th, 48.800 Points) – The Rising Challenger
Belgium has emerged as the surprise package of recent years, transforming from a league that rarely made European noise into a consistent coefficient contributor.
What changed:
- Professionalization: Belgian clubs invested in coaching, infrastructure, and scouting
- Tactical sophistication: Teams like Club Brugge developed coherent European strategies
- Collective mentality: Similar to the Netherlands, Belgian clubs embraced coefficient awareness
Recent performance: Belgium posted back-to-back seasons of 14.200 and 14.400 points in 2022-23 and 2023-24, and followed with 15.650 in 2024-25—actually outscoring the Netherlands in that campaign.
Key contributors:
- Club Brugge: Regular Champions League participants, reached knockouts in 2022-23
- Anderlecht, Union Saint-Gilloise, Gent: All produced solid Europa/Conference League campaigns
- Antwerp: Strong cup run and European participation
Belgium’s rise reflects improved depth. They’re no longer dependent on one or two clubs carrying the coefficient burden; instead, four or five Belgian teams regularly contribute meaningful points. This breadth makes them resilient—even if one club fails, others compensate.
The gap to Netherlands: Currently 12.5 points (67.150 vs 56.850 including 2024-25), which sounds comfortable. But Belgium’s upward momentum is undeniable. If they maintain 15+ point seasons while the Netherlands produces a 9-10 point year, Belgium could challenge for 7th place within two seasons and potentially threaten 6th within three or four.
The Belgian threat is long-term: They’re unlikely to overtake the Netherlands immediately, but their trajectory suggests they’ll be dangerous throughout the late 2020s. Their improvement also puts pressure on Portugal, creating a three-way battle for 6th-8th that benefits no one and creates constant tension.
The Second Tier: Austria, Scotland, Turkey, Czech Republic
These nations (ranked 9th-12th, with 36-40 points) are currently too far behind to threaten the Netherlands directly, but they demonstrate the volatility inherent in the coefficient system.
Scotland’s example: Jumped significantly when Rangers reached the 2022 Europa League final. That single magical run propelled Scotland up the rankings and earned them an additional European spot. It showed how one club’s exceptional season can transform a nation’s coefficient.
Czech Republic: Scored an impressive 13.500 points in 2023-24, their best season in years, driven by Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague performances. They’re suddenly competitive for a top-10 spot.
Turkey’s potential: With massive population and growing financial investment, Turkish clubs have the resources to challenge upward. If their league stabilizes politically and economically, they could produce consistent strong coefficient seasons.
These nations serve as reminders of what can happen with complacency. A Czech or Turkish club making an unexpected Champions League semi-final could net their country 10+ points in one season, suddenly making them competitive for top-ten positions and creating additional pressure on the 6th-8th battle.
Impact of Specific European Runs
Abstract coefficient totals tell part of the story, but specific campaigns defined Dutch football’s resurgence more than statistics ever could:
Ajax’s 2018-19 Champions League Semi-Final
Though just before the current five-year window, this run’s impact still reverberates. Ajax’s thrilling victories over Real Madrid (4-1 in the Bernabéu) and Juventus (2-1 in Turin) captured global imagination and reminded Europe that Dutch clubs could compete with the continent’s elite.
Coefficient impact: Over 16 points for that season alone, providing momentum that carried into subsequent campaigns.
Psychological impact: Restored Ajax’s—and by extension, the Eredivisie’s—reputation. Young players wanted to join Ajax again. Tactical respect returned. The run proved that Dutch football’s development model could produce Champions League-quality teams.
The shadow: When Ajax’s 2018-19 points dropped out of calculation after 2022-23, the Netherlands lost a significant buffer. The current challenge is replacing that production.
Feyenoord’s 2021-22 Conference League Final
One of the most important European runs in recent Dutch football history from a coefficient perspective. Feyenoord’s journey to Tirana delivered not just points but proved that a club outside the traditional Ajax-PSV duopoly could carry national European hopes.
The path: Group stage victories, knockouts against Partizan (5-2 aggregate), Slavia Prague (6-4), and Marseille (3-2), before losing the final 1-0 to Roma.
Coefficient contribution: Approximately 4-5 points from match results, progression bonuses, and final appearance.
Broader significance: Showed Conference League could be a genuine path to glory for Dutch clubs. The final in Tirana brought 50,000 Feyenoord fans and created memories that transcended coefficient points. It also demonstrated that the Conference League wasn’t a “lesser” competition—the quality was high, the prize money substantial, and the coefficient value equal to higher competitions proportionally.
AZ Alkmaar’s 2022-23 Conference League Semi-Final
Proved Feyenoord’s success wasn’t an anomaly. AZ, historically considered “best of the rest” in the Netherlands, navigated multiple knockout rounds before narrowly losing to West Ham (5-3 on aggregate).
Why it mattered: Demonstrated Dutch football’s depth had genuinely improved. It wasn’t just Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord anymore—the fourth and fifth best Dutch teams could compete for European silverware.
Coefficient value: Substantial points from a deep run, helping the Netherlands accumulate the 13.500 total for 2022-23.
Tactical lesson: AZ’s success came from pragmatic European tactics—solid defense, explosive transitions, home advantage maximization. They proved smaller Dutch clubs could compete by being smart rather than matching bigger clubs’ resources.
PSV’s 2024-25 Champions League Round of 16
A symbolic milestone. For the first time since Ajax’s 2019 heroics, a Dutch club reached the Champions League knockouts. While PSV’s elimination in the Round of 16 disappointed fans hoping for a deeper run, simply being there validated the Netherlands’ claim to 6th place.
Significance: Demonstrated that two Dutch clubs could simultaneously compete in the Champions League proper—the runner-up (PSV) didn’t just make up numbers; they advanced from the league phase.
Coefficient contribution: Match points plus knockout advancement bonuses helped produce the strong 15.250 season total.
The concern: PSV’s elimination, combined with Feyenoord falling in the playoff round, meant no Dutch club reached the quarter-finals. This ceiling—Round of 16 as the limit—is worrying. To truly separate from Portugal and Belgium, Dutch clubs need semi-final runs, not just last 16 appearances.
The Collective Effort Dynamic
One of the most fascinating aspects of the current Dutch coefficient situation is how it’s created unprecedented cooperation among traditional rivals.
The reality: When Ajax loses a Europa League match, they’re not just damaging their own reputation—they’re costing Feyenoord, PSV, AZ, and every other Dutch club potential future European spots. The coefficient system has aligned competing clubs’ interests in a way nothing else could.
Concrete manifestations:
- Fixture rescheduling: The Eredivisie adjusts domestic schedules to give European participants extra rest
- Strong lineups: Clubs field competitive teams even in “meaningless” domestic matches to keep European participants sharp
- Public support: Club officials publicly support each other’s European campaigns, acknowledging collective interest
- Information sharing: Tactical intelligence about upcoming European opponents is shared across clubs
The €80 million reminder: Jan de Jong’s estimate that dropping from 6th to 7th would cost Dutch football approximately €80 million annually has focused minds wonderfully. This isn’t abstract—it’s the actual revenue difference from losing one European spot and one direct Champions League entry.
The cultural shift: Coefficient awareness has moved from niche statistical interest to mainstream conversation. Dutch fans track weekly European results from Portuguese and Belgian clubs, celebrating their rivals’ failures and worrying about their successes. This collective mentality is relatively unique among European leagues and provides a competitive advantage.
The Current Reality: Consolidated but Challenged
The current state of Dutch football in Europe can be summarized as “consolidated but challenged.”
The achievements:
- 6th place secured through 2026-27
- Six European spots, most since 2015-16
- Two direct Champions League entries
- Increased revenue and prestige
- Cultural shift toward coefficient awareness
The vulnerabilities:
- Gap to Portugal only 5 points
- Belgium improving rapidly, outscoring Netherlands in recent seasons
- Ajax’s instability removes a traditional coefficient engine
- The 2021-22 season (19.200 points) drops off after 2025-26
- Ceiling seems to be Round of 16—no semi-finals since 2022 and 2019
The 2024-25 assessment: Despite the strong 15.250 point total, the spring European campaign exposed limitations. All four Dutch clubs in knockouts eliminated by Round of 16, winning just one of eight knockout matches. Dutch media labeled this “underwhelming,” and the criticism was warranted.
Yet there are reasons for cautious optimism. Having six teams in Europe provided more opportunities than ever before. Five of six reached their respective league phases—an 83% success rate that shows improved collective quality. The Conference League playoff system keeps mid-table clubs engaged, maintaining competitive intensity throughout the league.
The next three to five seasons will determine whether this resurgence becomes a sustained era or merely a temporary peak. The infrastructure is in place—the question is whether Dutch clubs can maintain the performance levels needed to defend their position against hungry competitors who want what the Netherlands has achieved.
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