History
Early history
Verbroedering Denderhoutem was founded in 1935 and registered to the Royal Belgian Football Association in 1943. They first reached the Belgian Promotion, Promotion (4th-highest level in Belgian football) in the 1980s. After several relegations and promotions in the provincial leagues and Promotion, the club finally reached the Belgian Third Division, third division in 1998–99 in Belgian football, 1998–99. They remained at that level except for one season in 2003–04 in Belgian football, 2003–04 when they played in the Promotion. After one season back at the third level, Denderhoutem merged with fellow club KFC Denderleeuw EH from the third division.Rise to the top tier
Verbroedering Dender won consecutively the Belgian Third Division A, third division A title (in 2005–06 in Belgian football, 2005–06) and the Belgian Second Division, second division title (in 2006–07 in Belgian football, 2006–07), to reach the Belgian Pro League, first division in 2007–08 Belgian First Division, 2007–08 for the first time in their history. They achieved promotion after beating Dessel Sport, Dessel 0–2 on the second division's 33rd match day on 13 May 2007. They finished at the 15th place in 2007–08 and again in 2008–09 Belgian First Division, 2008–09, though the club was relegated at the end of the 2008–09 season because the number of clubs in the first division was reduced from 18 to 16.Post–top division history
The club was relegated from the Second Division in the 2011–12 Belgian Second Division, 2011–12 season after finishing second bottom. In the 2015–16 Belgian Third Division, 2015–16 season, Dender qualified for the newly formed Belgian third tier named Belgian First Amateur Division. In the 2020–21 season, the division was renamed Belgian National Division 1 but the season was cancelled after one game due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium. They won promotion back to the second tier, now renamed the Challenger Pro League, in the 2021–22 Belgian National Division 1, 2021–22 season. The promotion was not without controversy. On the penultimate game of the promotion play-offs against RFC Liège on 22 May 2022, Dender lost 1–0 which saw them move into second place and Liège move to first place. The following day, it was announced that Liège would receive a three-point deduction and a €1000 fine after failing to field enough U21 players in their 3–0 win against Dender back in March 2022. As a result, Dender were awarded a 5–0 win and moved back to the top of the table. Liège released a statement to say that they would be appealing the decision. However, the points deduction would turn out to be irrelevant. This is because Liège lost on the final game of the season against Royal Knokke F.C., Knokke, while Dender won 1–0 against K.F.C. Dessel Sport, Dessel Sport.Return to top flight
Dender won promotion back to the Belgian Pro League in the 2023–24 season. They finished second in the Challenger Pro League to secure their promotion. This meant it would be the first time that the club had played in the top flight since 2009. Before the start of the season, the club was dealt with the blow of the departure of manager Timmy Simons who left to join fellow top tier side K.V.C. Westerlo, Westerlo.Honours
*Belgian Second Division / Challenger Pro League (level 2) **Winners: 2006–07 **Runners-up: 2023–24 Challenger Pro League, 2023–24 *Belgian Third Division A / Belgian National Division 1 (level 3) **Winners: 2005–06, 2021–22 Belgian National Division 1, 2021–22Coaching staff
Players
Current squad
''As of 13 February 2025.''Out on loan
References
External links