Belgian First Division (men's handball)
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The Belgian Eerste Klasse (Dutch) or Division 1 (French) is the name of the professional handball league of Belgium.
Current season, competition or edition: 2026–27 Belgian Eerste Klasse | |
| Sport | Handball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1957 |
| Organising body | Royal Belgian Handball Federation |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Country | Belgium |
| Confederation | EHF |
Most recent champion | Sporting Pelt (2025-26) |
| Most titles | Initia Hasselt (13 titles) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Division 2 |
| International cups | Champions League Cup Winners' Cup EHF Cup |
Competition format
The season begins with a tournament between the six teams who don't participate at the BeNe League. The first two teams join the teams from the BeNe League and they are separated in two play-off groups while the four others teams from the opening tournament participate to the play-down.
2016/17 Season participants
The following 12 clubs compete in the Eerste Klasse during the 2016–17 season.
| Team | City | Arena | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hubo Initia HC Hasselt | Hasselt | Sporthal Alverberg | Club playing in BeNe League |
| Callant Tongeren | Tongeren | Eburons Dôme Tongeren | |
| Sezoens Achilles Bocholt | Bocholt | Sportcomplex De Damburg | |
| HC Visé BM | Visé | Visé Omnisports Hall | |
| Sporting Neerpelt-Lommel | Neerpelt-Lommel | Sportcentrum Dommelhof | |
| KV Sasja HC | Antwerp | Sportcomplex Sorghvliedt | |
| Olse Merksem HC | Antwerp | Sportcentrum De Rode Loop | |
| EHC Tournai | Tournai | C.E.T Sports Hall | |
| HC Eynatten-Raeren | Raeren | Sporthalle Eynatten | |
| Kreasa HB Houthalen | Houthalen-Helchteren | Sporthal Lakerveld | |
| VOO RHC Grâce-Hollogne | Grâce-Hollogne | Grâce-Hollogne Omnisports Hall | |
| HC Visé BM II | Visé | Visé Omnisports Hall | |
Eerste Klasse Champions
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| Club | Titles | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Initia HC Hasselt | 13 | 1984, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
| 2. | Sporting Pelt | 12 | 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2004, 2024, 2026 |
| 3. | ROC Flémalle | 11 | 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1976 |
| 4. | KV Sasja HC | 6 | 1968, 1974, 1975, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Callant Tongeren | 6 | 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 | |
| 6. | HC Achilles Bocholt | 5 | 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023 |
| 7. | HC Eynatten-Raeren | 3 | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| 8. | SK Avanti Lebbeke | 2 | 1972, 1973 |
| Progrès HC Seraing | 2 | 1967, 1977 | |
| HC Visé BM | 2 | 2022, 2025 | |
| 12. | CH Schaerbeek Brussels | 1 | 1966 |
| Handball Club Inter Herstal | 1 | 1971 | |
| Yellow Red KV Mechelen | 1 | 1979 | |
| Handball Club Herstal | 1 | 1991 | |
| Olse Merksem HC | 1 | 1992 |
EHF coefficient ranking
For season 2017/2018, see footnote[1]
- 19.
(27) 
Extraliga (14.67) - 20.
(19) 
Extraliga (11.67) - 21. (24)
Eerste Klasse (11.25) - 21. (22)
SM-liiga (11.25) - 23. (32)
Lotto Eredivisie (10.78)
