Rotterdam equals a negative record as national champions

As reigning national champions, Rotterdam have made a false start to the new Hoofdklasse season. The team lost their first two league matches: 3–1 away at Bloemendaal and 3–4 at home to Amsterdam.

Only Amsterdam, as title holders, have ever started with two consecutive defeats in the Staatsloterij Hoofdklasse. The 2011–2012 national champions began the 2012–2013 season with a 3–4 home defeat against Pinoké and a spectacular 7–4 defeat away at Kampong. As a result, Amsterdam also found themselves on zero points after two match rounds.

Amsterdam did, however, bounce back remarkably quickly at the time. The two defeats were followed by a run of seven league matches without defeat (W6 D1). Nevertheless, the poor start ultimately proved costly: Amsterdam finished the regular season in fifth place and missed out on the play-offs.

The worst-ever final position for a reigning national champion is sixth place. HDM finished sixth as title holders in 1992–1993, and Bloemendaal did the same in 2000–2001.

Rotterdam will have another chance to pick up their first points of the season when they visit Den Bosch on Sunday. The pressure will be palpable, as never before has a reigning national champion started the Hoofdklasse Men with three consecutive defeats.