Champions AZ Alkmaar were upset by Heracles, Twente knocked off Sparta Rotterdam and Willem II won.
Champions lose and finish with nine men
Champions AZ Alkmaar were upset by Heracles, Twente knocked off Sparta Rotterdam and Willem II won.
AZ Alkmaar kicked off their campaign with a defeat following a surprise 3-2 reverse to
Heracles Almelo.
The Champions were always up against it having conceded in the sixth minute with Everton finding the back of the net.
Further goals after half-time from Willie Overtoom and Mark-Jan Fledderus left the visitors with a mountain to climb, however, they never threw in the towel.
Two goals in two minutes from Graziano Pelle and Mounir El Hamdaoui gave AZ hope of snatching a point, but they self-destructed late on.
Gill Swerts was given his marching orders before they finished the match with nine men after Pelle was also sent off.
Last season's runners-up
FC Twente began the season on a positive note following a 2-0 away win at
Sparta Rotterdam.
Blaise Kufo and Bryan Ruiz either side of half-time ensured Steve McClaren's side claimed all three points.
Willem II have kicked off their season in style with a 3-1 success over
Vitesse Arnhem.
The home side were in full control of the game at half-time thanks to goals from Christophe Gregoire and Said Boutahar.
However, the contrived to shoot themselves in the foot when Gregoire picked up his second yellow card of the game.
Sinan Kaloglu pulled one back for the visitors, but Arjan Swinkels ended any hope of an unlikely comeback with a injury-time third.
Newly-promoted
RKC Waalwijk began life back in Holland's top flight with a defeat thanks to Ricky van Wolfswinkel's early winner for
FC Utrecht.
