The first edition of the Johan Cruyff Shield was held on 18 August 1996 at the Amsterdam Arena. Although this was the seventh Dutch Supercup match to be played, it was the first one held under the Johan Cruyff Shield title (Dutch: Johan Cruijff Schaal), with former editions being played under the name Dutch Supercup (Dutch: Nederlandse Supercup). This was also the first Supercup game to be held at the Amsterdam Arena. From this year on each Supercup game would be played there, with each KNVB Cup final being played at De Kuip in Rotterdam.

The match was the first competitive game to be played at the Amsterdam Arena, after a friendly match between Ajax and Milan four days earlier. It featured the winners of the 1995–96 Eredivisie champions Ajax, and the winners of the 1995–96 KNVB Cup, PSV Eindhoven. The match ended in a 3–0 victory for PSV, with a goal from René Eijkelkamp and two for Marc Degryse, making them the first winners of the Johan Cruyff Shield.

18 August 1996

Ajax	0–3	PSV Eindhoven
		Eijkelkamp 48' Degryse 61', 78'

Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam

Attendance: 31,000

Referee: Jaap Uilenberg

Ajax	PSV Eindhoven

GK Edwin van der Sar RB John Veldman  83' CB Danny Blind (c) CB Mariano Juan LB Frank de Boer CM Arnold Scholten  46' CM Richard Witschge AM Jari Litmanen RW Tijani Babangida CF Ronald de Boer LW Peter Hoekstra  60' Substitutes: FW Nordin Wooter  46' FW Rody Turpijn  60' DF Mario Melchiot  83' Manager: Louis van Gaal

GK Ronald Waterreus RB Vampeta CB Ernest Faber  75' CB Jaap Stam LB Arthur Numan (c) DM Wim Jonk RM Marciano Vink  70' LM Phillip Cocu AM Marc Degryse CF Luc Nilis CF René Eijkelkamp  80' Substitutes: MF Željko Petrović  70' DF Stan Valckx  75' FW Marcelo  80' Manager: Dick Advocaat