It began in August 2016 with the first matches of the season and ended in May 2017 with the finals of the promotion/relegation play-offs, also involving the 16th- and 17th-placed teams from the 2016–17 Eredivisie.
Go Ahead Eagles won the post-season playoff, and are replaced in the 2016–17 Eerste Divisie by De Graafschap.
Achilles '29 was relegated, and Jong FC Utrecht joined the league.
The numbers 16 and 17 from the 2016–17 Eredivisie, 4 (substitute) period winners of the 2016–17 Eerste Divisie, as well as the 4 otherwise highest ranked teams of the 2016–17 Eerste Divisie, making a total of 10 teams, decide in a 3-round knockout system which 2 teams will play next season in the 2017–18 Eredivisie.
The remaining 8 teams will play next season in the 2017–18 Eerste Divisie.