KNVB Cup

The Toto KNVB Beker competition is there for the entire country. Known internationally as the Dutch Cup, the knockout tournament brings together the big names in professional football and the smaller amateur sides. The winners of the Toto KNVB Beker final are guaranteed at least six Europa League matches the following season.

The Toto KNVB Beker, also known as the KNVB Cup or Dutch Cup, offers great chances for all those taking part: a unique opportunity to play on the highest stage, find new challenges and spot new talent. A chance to clinch a major prize and a ticket to Europe. And for each club, player and fan, the wonderful prospect of enjoying football to the full.

The KNVB Cup brings out Dutch passion for football

Because every year, the KNVB Cup produces big surprises and extraordinary stories. It’s a tournament that brings out Dutch passion for football.

Unknown heroes

It’s an open arena where known and unknown heroes battle each other, defending their club colours. Where David takes on Goliath - and vice versa. The excitement grows across the nation as the battle enters its final stages with only a few clubs remaining.

No game is decided until the final whistle. There must be a winner, so that last lucky goal can make all the difference. This makes KNVB Cup matches so exciting, right until the very last moment. Unlikely heroes can rise; all options are open for all the clubs, players and fans.

KNVB Cup schedule This season’s fixture schedule on Dutch website. KNVB Cup results All scores 2016-'17 season on Dutch website. KNVB Cup setup As of the 2016-17 season, the KNVB Cup competition has a new setup. Women’s KNVB Cup ADO Den Haag has hosted the Women’s KNVB Cup final since 2015.

Records

Ajax Amsterdam are the record winners of the KNVB Cup, having won the final 18 times. Feyenoord Rotterdam follow at some distance with 12 victories. The Amsterdammers also played most finals: 24. PSV Eindhoven take second place with 17 final appearances.

Most goals were scored during the 1944 final in Eindhoven, when Willem II Tilburg defeated Groene Ster from the Limburg village of Heerlerheide 9-2. Romário de Souza Faria netted the quickest goal ever in a KNVB Cup final. PSV Eindhoven’s Brazilian star only needed two minutes to open the score against FC Groningen on 25 May 1989. 

Since the introduction of professional football in the Netherlands, only two amateur sides made it to the semi-finals: IJsselmeervogels (Bunschoten-Spakenburg) in the 1974-75 season and VVSB (Noordwijkerhout) in 2015-16.

Pine cone

The first final was played on 9 May 1899 between RAP Amsterdam and HVV Den Haag on 9 May 1899. RAP scored the only and winning goal in extra time to clinch the title for the first time. 

Unlike in neighbouring or England, however, the KNVB Beker competition didn’t generate much popular interest in the Netherlands in the early years. But that changed in 1960, when UEFA launched an inter-European competition, called the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, contested by the winners of domestic cup competitions. Since then, the Dutch Cup final has been a major highlight in every single football season. 

The silver trophy, nicknamed the pine cone (dennenappel in Dutch), was a gift from amateur club ANVV De Zwaluwen, set up in 1907 to improve the quality of the game in the Netherlands. From 1989, the exclusive venue for the KNVB Cup final has been De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam, with a capacity of 51,117 and known for its great atmosphere, adding allure to the cup competition.
 

KNVB Cup Winners