1996–97 Belgian First Division

Lierse won the title of the 1996/97 season.

Relegated teams

These teams were relegated to the second division at the end of the season:

• KV Mechelen
• Cercle Brugge

Final league table

Pos	Team	Pld	Won	Drw	Lst	GF	GA	Pts	GD	Notes
1	Lierse S.K.	34	21	10	3	70	38	73	+32	Qualified for 1997-98 UEFA Champions League.
2	Club Brugge	34	22	5	7	69	34	71	+35	Qualified for 1997-98 UEFA Cup.
3	R.E. Mouscron	34	17	10	7	60	38	61	+22
4	R.S.C. Anderlecht	34	16	10	8	59	36	58	+23
5	K.F.C. Lommel S.K.	34	16	9	9	50	48	57	+2	Qualified for 1997 UEFA Intertoto Cup.
6	R. Antwerp F.C.	34	16	5	13	51	49	53	+2
7	Standard Liège	34	16	2	16	55	55	50	0
8	K.R.C. Genk	34	13	9	12	49	43	48	+6
9	K.R.C. Zuid-West-Vlaanderen	34	12	11	11	50	42	47	+8
10	K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot	34	13	7	14	56	57	46	-1	Qualified for 1997-98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
11	K. Sint-Truidense V.V.	34	10	9	15	46	56	39	-10
12	K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen	34	10	8	16	41	57	38	-16
13	R. Charleroi S.C.	34	10	7	17	44	58	37	-14
14	K.A.A. Gent	34	10	6	18	44	58	36	-14
15	K.S.C. Eendracht Aalst	34	8	12	14	44	55	36	-11
16	R.W.D. Molenbeek	34	8	11	15	32	43	35	-11
17	Y.R. K.V. Mechelen	34	7	10	17	33	55	31	-22	Relegated to Division II.
18	Cercle Brugge K.S.V.	34	6	9	19	36	67	27	-31