88 teams contested beginning on 29 August 2009 with the matches of Round 1 and culminated with a double-leg Final on 25 April and 6 May 2010 respectively.
SC Heerenveen unsuccessfully defended its 2009 title losing in Round 4 to PSV, 1–3.
On 15 April, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced that the final was to be played over two matches due to imminent supporter violence.
The first leg of the final was staged in Amsterdam on April 25, with Ajax defeating Feyenoord 2–0, in the rivalry known as Klassieker.
24 of the Hoofdklasse clubs qualified for the competition through their league performance during the previous season, while the other half of the teams competing in the First Round secured their place through the 2008–09 KNVB District Cups.
Qualified participants: The quarter finals featured the 8 winning teams from round 4.