Ajax – who sit second on the table, three points behind PSV – travelled to strugglers VVV Venlo as heavy favourites.

And they justified that tag with a professional performance as they won 3-0 at the Seacon Stadion De Koel.

Ajax dominated possession and had 12 shots on goal, almost double that of their opponents.

Siem de Jong opened the scoring after 34 minutes when he converted Christian Eriksen's assist and they doubled their lead just after the hour-mark.

Dane Viktor Fischer was the scorer and they sealed their win thanks to a late strike from substitute Derk Boerrigter.

Feyenoord beat bottom-placed Willem II 3-1 thanks to a double from midfielder Tonny Vilhena.

Italian Graziano Pelle put Feyenoord in front after 10 minutes but the scores were level at the break thanks to a penalty from Virgil Misidjan.

Vilhena bagged his brace in the second half though as Feyenoord moved to within one point of the third-placed FC Twente, who lost 4-2 at home to Utrecht.

Goals from Jens Toornstra and Jacob Mulenga had Utrecht 2-0 ahead at the break but Dusan Tadic scored twice after the break to set up a nervy finale.

Mike van der Hoorn got the winner for the visitors with 16 minutes left though as they extended their unbeaten streak in the league to seven matches.