The historical significance of this pairing is defined by more than just their age. In the early 20th century, the two teams famously battled for national supremacy, most notably in 1915 when Sparta triumphed over Vitesse in a championship replay to clinch one of their early titles. Sparta Rotterdam SBV Vitesse Stadium Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel City Historical Status Oldest professional club in NL Second-oldest professional club in NL Modern Contrasts and Recent Form
The fixture between and Sparta Rotterdam is a meeting of Dutch football's deep historical roots, featuring the country's two oldest professional clubs. While Sparta Rotterdam (founded 1888) holds the title of the oldest, Vitesse (founded 1892) follows closely as the second-oldest, creating a matchup steeped in tradition that dates back to the very beginnings of the sport in the Netherlands. A Legacy of Longevity Vitesse - Sparta Rotterdam
As of 2026, the trajectories of the two clubs have diverged sharply due to off-field circumstances. Groundhopper Guide to Vitesse The historical significance of this pairing is defined
