It began on 2 August 2013 with the first matches of the season and ended on 26 May 2014 with the return of the finals of the promotion/relegation play-offs, also involving the 16th- and 17th-placed teams from the 2013–14 Eredivisie.
SC Cambuur were promoted from the Eerste Divisie as 2012–13 champions and replaced by bottom-placed Eredivisie Willem II, whereas Go Ahead Eagles won a top flight place in the nacompetitie, replacing VVV-Venlo, who were eliminated from the post-season playoff and therefore relegated to Eerste Divisie for this season.
Following the bankruptcy of SC Veendam and AGOVV in 2012-13 and RBC and HFC Haarlem in previous seasons, four teams were added to bring the division back up to 20 teams.
Achilles '29 were promoted from the Topklasse with the reserve teams of Ajax, FC Twente and PSV being added as well.
Both winners of the third round, FC Dordrecht and Excelsior, play in the 2014–15 Eredivisie.