The highest American football league in the Netherlands has a new name. On Sunday, Feb. 22, the Gridiron Eredivisie starts in Utrecht with a game between the Utrecht Dominators and the Arnhem Falcons.
The Gridiron Eredivisie will consist of five teams in 2026: Amsterdam Crusaders, Arnhem Falcons, Groningen Giants, Lighting Leiden and Utrecht Dominators. Between Feb. 22 and June 14, the five premier league teams will play an away and home game against the other Eredivisie opponents. After eight games, the balance will be drawn to see who will advance to the Gridiron Eredivisie Play-Offs. On July 12, the Dutch championship, the Tulip Bowl, will be held at a location to be determined.
Reigning national champion Amsterdam Crusaders will be in action for the first time on Sunday, March 1. The Cru will play only away games during the first half of the season, due to a renovation of its own grounds. The first game is away from Groningen Giants and will be a repeat of last season's Dutch championship. Then the Crusaders won the Tulip Bowl with a 39-18 victory over the Groningers.
With that victory, Crusaders took over the national title from Lightning Leiden, who became Dutch champions in 2023 and 2024. The Leiden squad played mostly at home in the first part of the season, but must play four of the final five games away from home. On June 7, the regular football season ends with an appropriate game against the Crusaders.
Runner-up Groningen Giants will have to put its best foot forward with competition from Lightning Leiden, Arnhem Falcons and Utrecht Dominators to repeat last season's unique performance.
Gridiron - The Magazine
American football platform Gridiron is doing extensive coverage of the Premier League this season with game reports, videos and photography. Last week, the platform and the league announced a close partnership through 2028 to promote the sport toward the Los Angeles Olympics. Flag football-the noncontact variant of American football-was included in the program for the first time.
Gridiron 12, which appears March 1, features an extensive preview of the Eredivisie. The issue will be available to order for 9.95 on the magazine's site starting Feb. 22.
Final schedule
Amsterdam Crusaders (AC)
March 1 at GG
March 8 at UD
March 22 at LL
April 5 at AF
April 19 vs. GG
May 3 vs. UD
May 31 vs. AF
June 14 vs. LL
Arnhem Falcons (AF)
Feb. 22 at UD
March 7 at LL
March 15 vs. GG
April 5 vs. AC
April 26 at GG
May 3 vs. LL
May 31 at AC
June 7 vs. UD
Groningen Giants (GG)
March 1 vs. AC
March 15 at AF
March 22 vs. UD
April 5 at LL
April 19 at AC
April 26 vs. AF
May 17 at UD
May 31 vs. LL
Lightning Leiden (LL)
March 7 vs. AF
March 22 vs. AC
April 5 vs. GG
April 26 at UD
May 3 at AF
May 24 vs. UD
May 31 at GG
June 7 at AC
Utrecht Dominators (UD)
Feb. 22 vs. AF
March 8 vs. AC
March 22 at GG
April 26 vs. LL
May 3 at AC
May 17 vs. GG
May 24 at LL
June 7 at AF
