The 2015 KNVB Cup final was an association football match between PEC Zwolle and FC Groningen on 3 May 2015 at De Kuip, Rotterdam.

PEC were appearing in their fourth KNVB Cup final and were the defending champions, having won the trophy for the first time the previous year by defeating Ajax 5–1.

PEC won after extra time in the quarter-final, proceeding to the semi-final of the KNVB Cup for the third consecutive year, where they were victorious in a penalty shoot-out to reach the final.

After defeating amateur clubs in the second and third rounds, Groningen eliminated three professional sides from the competition by a three-goal difference or more.

In the 64th minute, Albert Rusnák put Groningen 1–0 in front after his shot was deflected off PEC's Joost Broerse into the net.

By winning the KNVB Cup, Groningen qualified for the 2015 Johan Cruyff Shield and the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage.

Van Hezel of HHC headed against the crossbar before PEC midfielder Thomas Lam put the home side 1–0 in front.

In the closing minutes of the match, VVV had a goal disallowed after Warner Hahn, PEC's goalkeeper, was fouled.

It was the seventh time the two sides met in the KNVB Cup, with Twente winning all previous meetings, including the 1977 final.

[1] The game was played in Barendrecht; Groningen won 4–1 with goals from Danny Hoesen, Michael de Leeuw, Nick van der Velden and Jarchinio Antonia.

Groningen proceeded to the fourth round with an 8–1 victory, with Hoesen, Yoëll van Nieff, De Leeuw (4), Dino Islamović and Johan Kappelhof scoring.

[13] De Leeuw scored a hat-trick in five minutes, and Groningen recorded their tied-biggest away win in the club's history.

[13][14] In the fourth round they were drawn against Eerste Divisie side Volendam, with the match held at Euroborg, Groningen's home ground.

Around the 60th minute, De Leeuw's header was saved by Vitesse defender Guram Kashia on the goalline, using his hand.

De Leeuw doubled the score five minutes later before Van Nieff added a third for Groningen; he passed two Vitesse defenders and put the ball in the top corner.

[17][18] Played at Euroborg before a sold-out crowd,[19] Groningen hosted Eredivisie club Excelsior, who made their first appearance in a KNVB Cup semi-final since 1977–78.

Hans Hateboer, Groningen's right-back and Botteghin's replacement, put the home side 1–0 ahead after 40 minutes.

Albert Rusnák added a second goal early in the second half before Chery netted Groningen's third in the 88th minute, with the team advancing to the final with a 3–0 victory.

[19] PEC, founded in 1910,[21] were appearing in the KNVB Cup final for the second consecutive year and for the fourth time in their history.

[22][23] Jans, the PEC coach, showed his squad video messages from their family members before the match against Ajax;[24] he was hailed as a "motivator" by Dutch newspaper Dagblad van het Noorden.

[36] Several days before the final the coaches and captains of Groningen and PEC attended the mandatory press conference in Zeist.

FOX Sports analyst Arnold Bruggink suggested that PEC had a stronger squad and had gained experience playing a final the previous year, making them the favourites.

[38] Just before heading for Rotterdam, Van de Looi surprised his squad with a lunch with their family members; he concluded it strengthened the "feeling of invincibility" within the team.

[42] PEC kicked off the match at 6 p.m. CEST,[43][44] refereed by Richard Liesveld [nl],[45] who took charge of his first KNVB Cup final.

In the 8th minute, Lukoki hit a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Groningen defender Rasmus Lindgren blocked the effort.

[45] The game ebbed back and forth within the first 15 minutes; shortly afterwards, both sides became cautious of potential counter-attacks, resulting in both creating fewer goalscoring chances.

[48] They became the third Groningen-based team to win a major honour, after Be Quick won the 1919–20 Dutch League Championship and Velocitas 1897 claimed the 1933–34 KNVB Cup.

[22][49] By winning the cup, Groningen qualified for the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage and the 2015 Johan Cruyff Shield.

[42] The final, broadcast on FOX Sports, was watched by almost 1.9 million people, making it the most viewed programme of Sunday evening in the Netherlands.