KNVB Cup

Lore & Background

The first attempt at a knock-out competition open to all clubs in the Netherlands was made in 1894, but it was abandoned. In January 1898, H.M.C. Holdert offered another cup, and the KNVB Cup was conceived during a board meeting in The Hague on 19 January 1898. The tournament finally began in the 1898–99 season. The first final was played on 9 May 1899 between RAP Amsterdam and HVV Den Haag, ending 1–0 to RAP. In 1946, the trophy was changed to a silver one, which remains in use today. In 2018, a gold-colored trophy was commissioned for the 100th edition.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the De Kuip stands, turning the pitch into a slick canvas of green and mud. The final whistle had just blown, sealing another KNVB Cup victory for Ajax. In the center circle, the captain lifted the silver trophy high above his head, the rain catching the light as it cascaded down the polished metal. Around him, teammates in red and white stripes collapsed into a heap of pure ecstasy, their faces smeared with mud but glowing with triumph. The roar of the travelling Ajax faithful drowned out the groans of the opposition, a familiar symphony of victory that had echoed through Amsterdam for over a century. As confetti rained down, mixing with the drizzle, the weight of history felt light in their hands, another chapter written in the endless saga of the club's domestic dominance.

Reader's Guide

The tournament includes all teams from the top four tiers of Dutch league football (Eredivisie, Eerste Divisie, Tweede Divisie and Derde Divisie), plus the 24 semi-finalists (or replacements) of the six KNVB District Cups. The final traditionally takes place in De Kuip, held there every season since the 1989 final. The winners compete against the Eredivisie champions for the Johan Cruyff Shield. The cup winner enters the UEFA Europa League; if the winner qualifies for the Champions League, the Europa League berth goes to the Eredivisie.

Did You Know?

• The competition was based on the format of the English FA Cup.
• From 1995 to 2005 it was called the Amstel Cup, then the Gatorade Cup in 2005–06.
• In 2018, TOTO became title sponsor, renaming it the TOTO KNVB Beker.
• On 10 June 2025, a five-year sponsorship deal with EUROJACKPOT was announced, renaming it the Eurojackpot KNVB Beker through 2029–30.