divisie

Divisie is the Dutch word for division. It is used in various contexts to denote a part of something that has been split, a basic arithmetic operation, or a unit within an organization. In mathematics, division is the operation that distributes a quantity into equal parts, yielding a quotient. In business or the military, a division refers to a semi-autonomous unit or subdivision within a larger structure. The term derives from Latin divisio.

In Dutch football, the Divisie is most closely associated with the second level of professional competition. Officially called the Eerste Divisie, it is the tier below the Eredivisie. Since sponsorship changes in recent years, the league has been popularly referred to as the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. The division typically features around 20 clubs that compete each season, with promotion to the Eredivisie and, depending on the format of a given year, potential relegation to the lower tiers through a system of playoffs or direct demotion. The exact promotion and relegation rules have varied as Dutch football reorganized its league structure.

Outside sports, divisie or division is used in many languages to describe a subdivision or a distinct section within an organization, a government department, or a military unit. The word’s etymology traces back to the Latin divisio, passing through Old French and into Dutch usage.

Overall, divisie functions as a general term for dividing into parts and as a specific name for a high-level organizational or competition tier in Dutch contexts.