Excelsior - FC Volendam: direct clash at the bottom of the Eredivisie
Excelsior Rotterdam and FC Volendam are playing a match in the 33rd round of the Eredivisie that does not read like an ordinary end to the season. Ahead of the encounter, the home team is in 14th place with 34 points, Volendam is 16th with 31 points, and the three-point gap gives this match the weight of a battle for a safer zone. PSV has already settled the question of the champion, but the lower part of the table is still open, and precisely because of that Woudestein can get one of Excelsior's tensest home matches this season. Tickets for this encounter are in demand among fans.
For Excelsior, this is an opportunity to move away from the zone of additional pressure in front of their own fans. For Volendam, the away match in Rotterdam is a chance to grab a direct rival by the throat and await the final round with clearer hope. The two teams do not arrive from the same rhythm: Excelsior recently demolished FC Utrecht 5 - 0 at Woudestein, while Volendam in the same period defeated Heracles Almelo 2 - 0 away, but then lost at home to sc Heerenveen 0 - 1.
What is at stake
When the table is viewed, the picture is very concrete. Excelsior is above Volendam, but not so far away that it could play relaxed. Volendam is in a position where every point changes the psychology of the run-in. That is why the home team will probably try to impose the rhythm early, while it suits the visitors to stay in the match as long as possible and wait for moments of transition, set pieces or nervousness from the home stands.
- Excelsior holds 14th place before the match and has 34 points.
- FC Volendam is 16th with 31 points, three points behind Excelsior.
- Excelsior has taken 17 points at home this season in 16 league matches.
- Volendam has taken 8 points away from home in 16 matches.
- The difference between these two clubs ahead of the encounter is only 3 points.
Home ground here is not just a phrase. Excelsior has scored at Woudestein this season in 75 percent of home matches according to available statistical overviews, and Volendam away from home has often had a problem entering the match. With Volendam, the fact that they have conceded quite a few early goals away is especially noticeable, so the first 20 minutes could set the tone for the entire match.
Excelsior's form: home impulse after 5 - 0
Excelsior under coach Ruben den Uil is playing a season in which it is clear that the team can be dangerous in Rotterdam, but also that fluctuations have not disappeared. A 0 - 2 defeat to NEC Nijmegen and then a 2 - 2 draw at PEC Zwolle, followed by a convincing 5 - 0 against FC Utrecht, describe the team well: when it catches rhythm and applies pressure after losing the ball, it can punish the opponent in a series, but when it loses control of midfield, the match quickly becomes open for it.
For Excelsior fans, the most important thing is that the run-in is entered with proof that the team can fill the net against a stronger opponent. Five goals against FC Utrecht is not only a result for the archive, but also a message to Volendam that Woudestein is not a ground where one may survive only with a low block. Excelsior will look for width, quick runs from the wingers behind the backs of the full-backs and early pressure on Volendam's back line.
In the squad section, caution is needed with final assessments because pre-match information changes from day to day. Available injury overviews ahead of the final rounds listed absences such as Stan Henderikx, Mathijs Tielemans and Miliano Jonathans at Excelsior. If those absences are confirmed for this encounter as well, Den Uil will have to pay special attention to rotation in defence and midfield.
Volendam: an away match that can change the run-in
FC Volendam under Rick Kruys does not come to Rotterdam as a team that has the luxury of waiting. Their away record is difficult: 2 wins, 2 draws and 12 defeats in 16 away league matches. With a goal difference of 10 - 31 away, it is clear why this is one of the biggest tests of their season. If Volendam wants points, it must avoid the scenario in which it is already chasing the result by half-time.
The strongest names in attack are experienced and well known to the Dutch public. Robert Mühren is Volendam's leading scorer with 6 goals according to available seasonal statistics, Brandley Kuwas has added 5, while Robin van Cruijsen, Henk Veerman and Aurelio Oehlers are on 4 goals. It is not an attack that constantly grinds down the opponent, but it has enough experience to punish poor clearances, a careless foul around the penalty area or a lost ball in midfield.
- Robert Mühren - 6 league goals for Volendam.
- Brandley Kuwas - 5 league goals.
- Robin van Cruijsen - 4 league goals.
- Henk Veerman - 4 league goals.
- Aurelio Oehlers - 4 league goals.
At Volendam, special attention before the match is paid to the condition of Dave Kwakman, who was mentioned in available injury overviews with a knee problem. For a team that already has little room for error, every absence in midfield or the back line further complicates preparation. Kruys will therefore have to choose between a cautious block and a braver push toward Excelsior's centre-backs.
Head-to-head meetings: goals almost never fail to appear
The last five head-to-head matches delivered a clear message: this pairing rarely plays closed matches. In those five encounters, four ended with more than 2 goals, and the average number of goals was 3.60 per match. This season's first encounter, played on September 20, 2025 in Volendam, ended with a 2 - 1 victory for Excelsior. That is a result that gives the home team a psychological advantage, but also a reminder to Volendam that the gap between the teams is not large.
- 20.09.2025: FC Volendam - Excelsior 1 - 2
- 12.04.2024: Excelsior - FC Volendam 4 - 0
- 29.10.2023: FC Volendam - Excelsior 3 - 1
- 28.05.2023: FC Volendam - Excelsior 3 - 2
- 20.01.2023: Excelsior - FC Volendam 2 - 0
For the spectator coming to the stadium, this means that a match without risk is not expected. Excelsior has a reason to attack in front of its own crowd, Volendam has little use for a passive defeat, and the mutual history suggests that one early goal can open space for several more big chances. Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly.
Tactical picture: Excelsior's pressure against Volendam's transition
Excelsior should look for a high-tempo match. On home ground it has a better record than Volendam has away, and the first-goal statistic also favors the home team: Excelsior more often scored first at home, while Volendam away rarely broke through the opponent first. That does not mean the match will be one-way, but that the first half hour will be crucial for the home plan.
Volendam's chance lies in patience. If it survives the initial pressure, it can look for Mühren and Veerman through crosses, Kuwas through the space between the lines and quick balls toward the wide channels. Excelsior will have to be careful with set pieces because teams fighting for survival often find the shortest route to goal right there. One corner, one second wave of attack or one loose ball can change the entire run-in.
A particularly interesting detail will be the space behind Volendam's full-backs. If the visitors open up too high, Excelsior can use speed and direct balls toward the wings. If they close too deep, the home team will have to be patient and must not turn the match into endless crosses without structure. Den Uil's team must find a balance between pressure and control, because Volendam can extract the most precisely from chaos.
Stadion Woudestein: small stadium, great pressure from the stands
Stadion Woudestein is located at Honingerdijk 110 in Rotterdam's Kralingen district, near the Erasmus University campus. According to StadiumDB, the capacity is 4,400 seats, and the stadium is used as the home of SBV Excelsior. It was opened in 1902 and has been renovated several times throughout history, including works in 1997 - 2000 and 2016. Because of the small capacity, the stands are close to the pitch and the match is watched from a different perspective than in large Dutch arenas.
That is an important detail for this match. In a large stadium, the visitor sometimes survives pressure more easily, but at Woudestein every duel along the touchline, every sliding tackle and every goalkeeper reaction is immediately felt in the stand. For Excelsior, that is an advantage if it starts well early. For Volendam, it can be a problem if it loses composure in the first 15 minutes.
- Stadium: Stadion Woudestein
- Address: Honingerdijk 110, 3062 NX Rotterdam
- Capacity according to StadiumDB: 4,400 seats
- Home club: SBV Excelsior
- Location: Rotterdam-Kralingen, near the Erasmus University campus
It is worth securing tickets in time, especially because this is a small stadium and a match that directly affects the lower part of the standings. Fans who like proximity to the pitch get exactly that here: there is no great distance between the stand and the play, so the rhythm of the match is felt very directly.
How to get to the stadium
For travelers coming to Rotterdam, Woudestein is practical because it is not far from the city centre. The Stadium Guide states that from the main railway station Rotterdam Centraal to the stadium one can take tram 21 in the direction of De Esch, getting off at the Woudestein stop. The ride takes about 15 minutes, and the tram can also be caught in the Coolsingel and Blaak areas in the centre.
By car, more time should be planned. Excelsior states that on match days parking at P1, P2 and P3 is available with a parking ticket, while paid parking can be found in the surrounding streets. Since this is a residential part of Kralingen and a small stadium, arriving at the last minute is not a good idea. It is better to arrive earlier, walk toward the stadium and avoid nervousness around parking.
- Public transport: tram 21 toward De Esch, exit Woudestein.
- Departure: the tram can be used from the direction of Rotterdam Centraal, Coolsingel and Blaak.
- Car: P1, P2 and P3 are used with a parking ticket on match days.
- Surroundings: paid parking exists in nearby streets, but spaces may be limited.
- Arrival: because of the small stadium and the importance of the match, it is wise to arrive earlier.
The exact opening time of the entrances for this encounter has not been confirmed in the available information, so fans should plan their arrival with enough reserve. At matches of this significance, the biggest crowds usually form immediately before kick-off, especially on the approaches and at ticket checks.
Rotterdam for away fans
Rotterdam is a city of the port, modern architecture and football contrasts. Excelsior comes from Kralingen, a district that is quieter than the inner centre and different from the major tourist spots. For Volendam fans, this means that the away trip can be organized without complicated movement through the city: the centre, the railway station and the stadium are connected by public transport, and the stadium is close enough that matchday can be planned without hurry.
Those who arrive earlier can stay in the centre around Blaak, Markthal or Coolsingel, and then transfer by tram toward Woudestein. Kralingen has a more local, neighbourhood character, which fits well with Excelsior's identity. This is not a match in a monumental arena, but an encounter in a place where every reaction from the stand is heard.
The atmosphere to expect
This is not a derby by geography, but it is a derby by the table. Excelsior fans know that a win could mean a huge step toward a calmer final round, and Volendam fans arrive with the feeling that the season can still turn around. Such matches often start nervously, with many duels and little beauty, but one mistake quickly changes everything.
It will be loudest after the first major spell of pressure from the home team or the first away counterattack. If Excelsior takes the lead, the stadium can become very unpleasant for Volendam because the crowd is close to the play. If Volendam holds out and scores first, the pressure shifts to the home players. It is precisely that change of mood that makes this encounter interesting for the neutral spectator as well.
Ticket sales for this match are underway. Considering Woudestein's capacity and the stakes in the table, this is an encounter for which there is not much room for waiting. Fans who want to watch the final stage of the fight for survival from the front row of Dutch football should count on crowds around the stadium and on a match in which every set piece will carry weight.
What to pay attention to during the match
The first signal will be the position of Excelsior's back line. If the home team stands high, the match will probably be fast, with plenty of space behind the defence. If Excelsior is more cautious, Volendam will have to build attacks itself, which has not always come easily for it away from home this season. The second signal is the play of Volendam's attackers with their backs to goal: Mühren and Veerman can hold the ball and force Excelsior's centre-backs into fouls, but they need support from the second line.
The third detail is set pieces. In matches where survival is at stake, corners and free kicks often carry more nervousness than open play. Volendam will seek them as a way to bypass pressure, and Excelsior will have to be careful not to allow a series of crosses. On the other hand, the home team could find a route to goal precisely through the second wave after a set piece if Volendam defends the penalty area deep.
The fourth detail is the final 20 minutes. If the result is tight, the coaches will have to decide whether they want to take risks or protect a point. Excelsior remains ahead of Volendam with a draw, but a victory brings much greater value. Volendam survives with a draw, but with a victory changes the entire story. Because of that, a finish can be expected in which the crowd will also play its role.
Sources:
- Sofascore - data on the match date, stadium, coaches and current team standings.
- World Soccer Data - table context, points, home and away form, H2H results and statistical trends.
- Voetbalstats.nl - results of Excelsior and FC Volendam in the season run-in and data on coaches in the 2025/2026 season.
- SoccerStats - FC Volendam scorers and basic seasonal performance after 32 matches.
- StadiumDB - capacity, address, history and basic data on Stadion Woudestein.
- Excelsior Rotterdam - information on arrival and parking around the stadium.
- The Stadium Guide - practical information on public transport to Stadion Woudestein.