The Eredivisie is the top ice hockey league in the Netherlands. Holland is not a hockey power, even though skating is part of the national mythology, but there are NHL players signing up with this league for the duration of the lockout, so it's worth a look.
There are currently seven clubs in the Eredivisie, six in the Netherlands and one in Belgium. Each team plays a 36-game schedule from September to March, followed by playoffs. The playoff winner is declared Eredivisie champion. There is also the Dutch Cup, which is contested by the six Dutch Eredivisie clubs plus the eight Eerste Divisie (second tier) clubs.
The league first appeared in 1945, but was inactive in 1948-49, and from 1950 to 1964. In 2010-11 and 2011-12 the league was replaced by a competition called the North Sea Cup when two Belgian clubs joined in. This year the Eredivisie is back, but with one Belgian club enrolled.
The clubs are:
Amsterdam G's. Formerly the Amsterdam Capitals. They play at the 1,200-seat Jaap Eden baan, named after a speed skater. Colours: red and black.
Eindhoven Kemphanen. The Fighting Roosters play at the IJssportcentrum Eindhoven (capacity 1,700). They wear orange and light blue.
Friesland Flyers. Founded in 1967, this club has won seven Dutch championships, all between 1976 and 1983. They play at the 3,500-seat Thialf in Heerenveen. Yellow, white and blue. There ought to be an annual tournament between the Friesland, Fife and Kloten Flyers.
Ruitjers Eaters Geleen. Formed in 1968, the Eaters (the name is taken from the Trail Smoker Eaters) are the current league champions. They play at the Glanerbrook Ijshal (1,200). They wear red, white and blue. Geleen is in Limburg, the uvula-shaped southern projection of the Netherlands, near the Rhine Palatinate.
HYS The Hague. Nine-time national champs, HYS (short for Haagsche Ijshockey Stichting) date back to 1933. Their home rink is the 2,610-seat De Uithof. They wear blue and two shades of red.
HYC Herentals. Herentals is in Flanders, Belgium. HYC were founded in 1971 and have been Belgian champions four times. They wear red and white. The Bloso Ijsbaan seats 1,200.
Destil Trappers Tilburg. The Trappers were founded in 1938, and have 13 Dutch championships. Their home rink is the Stappegoor IJssportcentrum Tilburg, which seats 2,500. Blue and yellow. [Dustin Jeffrey of the Pittsburgh Penguins was to have played for Tilburg but has moved on to Zagreb. Dale Weise of the Vancouver Canucks have signed with Tilburg.]