46 teams contested, beginning on 6 September 1980 and ending at the final on 28 May 1981.
During the quarter and semi-finals, two-legged matches were held.
1 Eerste Divisie; A Amateur teams The matches of the second round were played on November 15 and 16, 1980.
The quarter finals were played on February 25 and April 1, 1980.
AZ also won the Dutch Eredivisie championship, thereby taking the double.