The Dutch Eerste Divisie in the 1989–90 season was contested by 19 teams. Schiedamse Voetbal Vereniging (SVV) won the championship.

New play-off system

From this year onwards, only one club promoted directly to the Eredivisie, instead of two. Also, one of the Eredivisie-clubs (the number 16 of 18) now had a chance to avert relegation. Promotion was no longer certain for the runner-up of the Eerste Divisie. A new and expanded play-off system was introduced. The following teams entered: Group round Six entrants would play in two groups of three teams. The two group winners: play-off 1. Losers: remain in Eerste Divisie Play-off 1 Winners: promoted to the Eredivisie. Losers: play-off 2. Play-off 2 Winners: Eredivisie. Losers: Eerste Divisie.

New entrants

Relegated from the 1988–89 Eredivisie

League standings

Promotion/relegation play-offs

The promotion/relegation play-offs consisted of three rounds. In the group round, four period winners (the best teams during each of the four quarters of the regular competition) and two (other) best placed teams in the league, played in two groups of three teams. The group winners would play in play-off 1. The winners of that play-off would be promoted to the Eredivisie, the loser had to take on the number 16 of the Eredivisie in play-off 2. These two teams played for the third and last position in the Eredivisie of next season. Play-off 1 sc Heerenveen: promoted to Eredivisie FC Emmen: play-off 2 Play-off 2 NEC Nijmegen: remain in Eredivisie FC Emmen: remain in Eerste Divisie