The 2016–17 Tweede Divisie season was the first edition of the Dutch third tier since its initial dissolution from the 1970-71 season and the fifteenth overall using "Tweede Divisie" name.
Fourteen teams were completed from the Topklasse Saturday and Sunday divisions.
Seven highest-placed teams of each division earned promotion to constitute a new, amateur Tweede Divisie.
This change in the league system was approved in a KNVB assembly in December 2014.
Thus, the Topklasse and leagues below it decremented by one level, and furthermore, promotion and relegation between the Tweede Divisie and the Topklasse were implemented.