The 2017 Eredivisie winners Feyenoord were shocked 2-0 by De Graafschap in their first game of the new league season.
A goal in either half was enough to secure victory, while Feyenoord ended with nine men once Eric Botteghin and Jean-Paul Boetius were sent off after half-time.
Fabian Serrans put the hosts ahead in the first half and Stef Nijland sealed victory in the fourth minute of added time.
There was a walloping for Groningen at Vitesse, who ran out 5-1 winners thanks in part to a goal from Chelsea loanee Jake Clarke-Salter.
Ritsu Doan had actually cancelled out Bryan Linssen's 22nd-minute opener, but Matus Bero, former Reading man Roy Beerens and Tim Matavz, plus Clarke-Salter, secured a thumping opening-day victory.
Emmen enjoyed a good start to life in the top flight courtesy of a 2-1 win at ADO Den Haag, where Glenn Bijl and Anco Jansen put the visitors comfortably ahead before half-time.
Sheraldo Becker pulled a goal back for ADO after the break, but they couldn't force an equaliser.
AZ Alkmaar bettered Vitesse's result to go top of the league with a 5-0 thrashing of NAC Brada.
The hosts fully deserved their victory - hammering in 29 shots during the game - and went ahead through Jonas Svensson's opener just before the half-hour mark.
It was two when Pantelis Hatzidiakos added a quick second, and Myron Boadu put the game out of sight before half-time.
Teun Koopmeiners and Bjorn Johnsen then put the icing on a very enjoyable cake in the final 10 minutes.