FC Twente established a four-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie as they edged out Heerenveen to register their sixth win from six games at the start of the new season.
Steve McClaren's table-toppers were pushed all the way by their lowly visitors, who despite a spirited showing remain winless after three draws and three defeats.
Twente made sure of a victory that preserves their 100% start to the season when Dusan Tadic stroked home the only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the 59th minute.
Vitesse Arnhem remain in second spot despite Saturday's stalemate against Heracles Almelo after Ajax could only manage a 1-1 draw at ADO Den Haag.
ADO took the lead in the 14th minute when Tom Beugelsdijk stooped to head home a corner from the left, but Ryan Babel ensured it ended honours even when he stroked home a 62nd-minute equaliser after a mistake in the home backline.
Ajax's slip-up allowed PSV Eindhoven to pull level with the third-placed Amsterdammers on 12 points after comfortably seeing off Feyenoord 3-0.
Ola Toivonen opened the scoring with a long-range shot in the 63rd minute, while Georginio Wijnaldum added a second 10 minutes later when he nodded home a Dries Mertens free-kick and Luciano Narsingh wrapped up the scoring with his first for PSV, the midfielder finishing off a swift counter-attack.
AZ Alkmaar's inconsistent start to the campaign continued as they lost 2-1 at NAC Breda.
AZ took the lead in the 34th minute through Adam Maher, but NAC made sure of their first victory of the season thanks to second-half strikes by Kees Luyckx (67) and Sepp De Roover (73).
On Saturday, Vitesse had missed the chance to take over top spot after being held to a 1-1 draw by Heracles Almelo.
The home side paid the price for wasting a number of first-half chances as Heracles went ahead three minutes after the interval, Ben Rienstra setting up Ninos Gouriye to slot home from close range.
However, the Arnhem club earned an equaliser after 73 minutes when Mieke te Wierik clattered into Marco van Ginkel in the area. A penalty was awarded and Wilfried Bony kept a cool head with his kick.
Willem II fought out a goalless draw at NEC Nijmegen with the point enough to lift them off the foot of the table.
Melvin Platje had the ball in the back of the net for NEC after 12 minutes but the goal was disallowed after he was adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper David Meul.
Meul also had to pull off a good save to keep out a shot from Geert Arend Roorda while Ryan Koolwijk curled a free-kick narrowly past the post for the home side, who had the better chances.
A red card for Kevin Conboy two minutes from time for his challenge on Virgil Misidjan eventually knocked the fight out of NEC, but Willem II were unable to capitalise.
Zwolle threw away their advantage to lose 2-1 at home to FC Groningen as their search for a first win of the season continues.
The newly-promoted side were gifted the lead after 23 minutes when a blunder from goalkeeper Luciano allowed Youness Mokhtar to score.
And it looked like Zwolle had done enough until Groningen struck twice in the last six minutes.
Genero Zeefuik equalised after 84 minutes, putting away the rebound after Virgil van Dijk was unsuccessful with his shot, and Michael de Leeuw hit the winner four minutes later by heading home a cross from Maikel Kieftenbeld.
VVV-Venlo are also without a win yet, playing out a 1-1 draw at RKC Waalwijk.
Marcel Seip fired VVV in front after just six minutes, beating the offside trap to chip the ball over goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet.
Henrico Drost hit the crossbar as RKC hunted for an equaliser, while Siep also headed against the post shortly after the interval as the visitors threatened a second goal.
The hosts equalised after 56 minutes when Teddy Chevalier provided the finishing touch to a deep pass from Jeff Stans, and they could have gone ahead 10 minutes later but the woodwork intervened once more to keep out Rodney Sneijder.
FC Utrecht moved up to fourth in the Eredivisie with a 1-0 win at Roda JC on Friday evening.
Dave Bulthuis scored the only goal of the game in the 34th minute to give the visitors all three points.
Roda have won just one of their six games this season to lie 13th in the table.
