- News release
Start of Tulp Hoofdklasse: new playing times and new format on Viaplay
The summer break is over: this Saturday 13 September sees the start of the new Tulp Hoofdklasse season. With fixed game times on Sundays - the ladies at 12:45 and the men at 15:00 - top hockey is more central than ever. Here's what's changing this season.
In total, there are 52 so-called Super Sundays and 5 Super Saturdays, on which both the women's and men's team of the same club are in action immediately after each other. For supporters, this means two top hockey matches in a row from the same grandstand. One double per weekend will be broadcast live on Viaplay. It is therefore no longer possible to watch all matches of a round live separately.
Introduction of a new format
For the first time, fans will now have the chance to watch all the highlights of a match round in one programme, in addition to the two weekly live matches. The new format, The Switch, switches live between the best actions, goals and saves from all fields. This way, fans will not miss a single decisive moment.
Viaplay broadcast rights extended
In line with the introduction of this new format, the HHcv and Viaplay have extended the cooperation for a minimum of one year. With this, Tulp Hoofdklasse matches will continue to be shown on Viaplay until the summer of 2027. For fans who cannot watch live during the day, there will be the familiar summary programme on Sunday evening at 22:30. This cooperation is an important step in bringing the sport closer to fans.
'We are extremely happy with the renewal of our partnership with Viaplay and with the introduction of this new media format,' Rob Almering, managing director Tulp Hoofdklasse (HHcv), says. 'This way, we strengthen the sports experience and bring the quality and dynamics of this top-class sport closer to every hockey fan - both along the line and at home.'
Top sport at world level
The Tulp Hoofdklasse remains the league that brings together the biggest names in international hockey. This season, more than 25 Olympic champions and over 25 brand-new European champions are playing. From German internationals who captured gold last summer to Dutch stars like Yibbi Janssen, Pien Sanders, Thierry Brinkman and Terrance Pieters: every round of play guarantees top-class sport at the highest level.
A new chapter
The 2025/2026 season not only stands for exciting matches and prestigious titles, but also for a renewed way of experiencing and sharing hockey. The combination of top-level sport, an innovative media format and engaged fans will make this year a truly Super Season.
Watch the news about the new playing schedule for the 2025-2026 seasonhere.
