The Dutch Eredivisie is the top professional football league in the Netherlands. Established in 1956, it features 18 teams competing annually for the championship title. The league operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football. Each season, teams play 34 matches, facing each opponent twice, once at home and once away. The team with the most points at the end of the season is crowned the champion. The Eredivisie is known for its competitive nature and has produced many talented players who have gone on to achieve success in international football.