Willem II Allowed Fans for Saturday Playoff, Kick-Off Moved Earlier

Willem II will be permitted to bring supporters to the decisive promotion/relegation playoff against FC Volendam on Saturday. The match has been rescheduled to start at 16:30, several hours earlier than originally planned.

The original kickoff time of 20:00 had prompted the municipality of Edam-Volendam to decide that no away supporters would be allowed at the venue. Local authorities cited security concerns linked to previous incidents.

On Monday, officials announced that Willem II fans would not be admitted, citing misbehaviour by FC Volendam supporters after their recent Eredivisie match against Telstar. The ban was intended to prevent further disturbances.

A similar restriction had been applied to the European‑playoff match between Ajax and FC Groningen, also held in Volendam, where Groningen supporters were initially barred. That decision was later reversed, allowing the northern fans to attend.

The first leg of the tie ended on Wednesday with FC Volendam securing a 2-1 victory over Willem II. The result set the stage for a decisive second encounter.

The winner of the two‑legged tie will compete in the Eredivisie next season, while the loser will be placed in the Keuken Kampioen division. Promotion and relegation are therefore at stake.

With the earlier kick‑off, both clubs have additional preparation time, and supporters anticipate a tightly contested battle for top‑flight football.