FC Zwolle was founded on June 12, 1910 as PEC, which was changed to PEC Zwolle in 1971 and to PEC Zwolle '82 in 1982. PEC stood for PH EDN Combinatie (PH EDN Combination). The club was a merger of Prins Hendrik (April 1, 1906; Prince Henry) and Ende Desespereert Nimmer (1904; And Never Despair). On February 23, 1955, PEC decided to play professional football. In 1978, PEC Zwolle reached the highest Dutch football league for the first time in its history, after winning the title in the Dutch first division. In the first season on the highest level, the club reached the highest league position (8th) ever. Most prominent result that year was a 0-1 away victory at PSV Eindhoven. In 1985, PEC Zwolle '82 relegated to the Dutch first division, but managed to return after just one season, with a second place in the first division. In 1989, PEC Zwolle '82 relegated again, leading to its bankruptcy in 1990. The club made a fresh start, under a new name (FC Zwolle) with a new organisational structure, new sponsors, new club colours (blue-white instead of green) and a new crest. The first years of the 'new' club were hard, but after 1992/1993, a new team filled with talents such as Jaap Stam (who would later play for PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Lazio Roma and AC Milan), Bert Konterman (who would later play for Feyenoord and Rangers) and Henri van der Vegt (who would later play for Italian side Udinese), played attractive and successful football. After many failed attempts in the play-offs, FC Zwolle finally managed to secure a return to the highest league of Dutch football with a first division title in 2002. In the first year on the highest level, FC Zwolle ended 16th and stayed in the highest league through play-offs. A year later, the club would make a miserable season start, having scored only 7 points halfway through the season. An impressive sprint (with victories over the likes of SC Heerenveen and AZ Alkmaar) proved in vain, as FC Zwolle dropped from a 16th place (play-offs) to the 18th place (direct relegation) on the last day of the season. FC Zwolle lost 7-1 away at Feyenoord, while rivals Vitesse and FC Volendam managed to beat their opponents FC Utrecht and RBC Roosendaal. The club has played two national cup finals (lost to RCH in 1928 and to FC Twente in 1977) and has won two Dutch first division titles, in 1978 and in 2002.

FC Zwolle in the Eredivisie

• 1978/1979: 8th
• 1979/1980: 14th
• 1980/1981: 9th
• 1981/1982: 15th
• 1982/1983: 13th
• 1983/1984: 14th
• 1984/1985: 18th (relegated)
• 1986/1987: 11th
• 1987/1988: 13th
• 1988/1989: 16th (relegated)
• 2002/2003: 16th
• 2003/2004: 18th (relegated)