Belgian National Division 1
Founded2016; 8 years ago (2016)
CountryBelgium
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toChallenger Pro League
Relegation toBelgian Division 2
Domestic cup(s)Belgian Cup
Current championsPatro Eisden
(2022–23)
Current: 2023–24 Belgian National Division 1

The Belgian National Division 1, commonly referred to as simply Eerste Nationale (in Dutch) or Nationale 1 (in French) is a semi-professional and the third-highest division in the Belgian football league system, one level below the Challenger Pro League. It was created by the Royal Belgian Football Association in 2016, coming in at the third level and pushing all divisions one level down. Until the 2019–20 season, it was known as the Belgian First Amateur Division, but was renamed due to the negative connotation of the word amateur.

History

The Belgian First Amateur Division was created in 2016 following an overhaul of the Belgian football league system which saw the number of professional clubs reduced to 24. As a result, from the third level and below only amateur clubs remain.[1] The two remaining levels above the Belgian Provincial leagues were reformed into three amateur levels, namely the Belgian First Amateur Division, the Belgian Second Amateur Division and the Belgian Third Amateur Division. As a result, the Belgian Provincial Leagues dropped to the sixth level of the league system. In 2020 the levels were renamed to Belgian National Division 1, Belgian Division 2, and Belgian Division 3 respectively. In 2022–23, the league was expanded to 20 teams but reduce to 18 teams from 2023–24.

Competition format

The season is a regular round-robin tournament with 18 teams. The top two teams automatically direct promotion to Challenger Pro League for 2024–25 season.[2]

Regarding relegation, the bottom three teams are automatically demoted, while the team finishing in 17th place play a relegation playoff together with three teams from the Belgian Division 2 with the playoff winner obtaining a spot in the following season's Belgian National Division 1.

Past results overview

Season Regular season winner Promotion play-off participants Champions Promoted Relegated
2016–17 Beerschot Wilrijk Beerschot Wilrijk, Dessel Sport, Heist and Virton Beerschot Wilrijk Beerschot Wilrijk Coxyde, Hasselt, Sprimont-Comblain and WS Bruxelles
2017–18 Lommel Deinze, Dessel Sport, Knokke and Lommel Knokke Lommel[nb 1] Berchem, Hamme and Patro Eisden Maasmechelen
2018–19 Tessenderlo Deinze, Lierse Kempenzonen, Tessenderlo and Virton Virton Virton Aalst, ASV Geel, Knokke and Oudenaarde
2019–20 Deinze not held due to coronavirus pandemic Deinze Deinze, RWDM47 and Seraing[nb 2] Tubize[nb 2]
2020–21 season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium.[3]
2021–22 RFC Liège Dender EH, Dessel Sport, Knokke and RFC Liège Dender EH Dender EH La Louvière Centre[nb 3]
2022–23 Patro Eisden Maasmechelen no playoffs this season Patro Eisden Maasmechelen Francs Borains, Patro Eisden Maasmechelen and RFC Liège Mandel United, Ninove, Rupel Boom

Footnotes

  1. ^ Champions Knokke did not apply for a professional football license, allowing runners-up Lommel to be promoted instead.
  2. ^ a b Due to the fact that both Roeselare and Virton from the 2019–20 Belgian First Division B were refused a professional football license and the bankruptcy of Lokeren, two additional teams were promoted besides champions Deinze. Similarly, two teams were spared of relegation (Sint-Eloois-Winkel Sport and La Louvière Centre) resulting in only Tubize being relegated.
  3. ^ Due to the fact that Excel Mouscron from the 2021–22 Belgian First Division B was refused a professional football license, and the fact that Roeselare folded just prior to the start of the season, only one team was relegated.

References

  1. ^ "La réforme du championnat approuvée: une grande lessive se prépare en D2 (INFOGRAPHIE)" (in French). dh.be. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Bondsreglement" (PDF) (in Dutch). Royal Belgian Football Association. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Amateurcompetities definitief stopgezet, jeugdvoetbal tot U13 blijft mogelijk" [Amateur leagues cancelled definitively, youth matches until U13 remain possible] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
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