Ajax went outright second in the Eredivisie after earning a 2-0 away win at RKC Waalwijk while Feyenoord fell to defeat on Sunday.
First-half goals to Nikolas Moisander and Christian Eriksen saw the visitors to a comfortable victory at Mandermakers Stadion, as Frank de Boer's men went within three points of leaders PSV.
They also created a three-point gap to third side Twente and fourth-placed Feyenoord, with the latter succumbing to a surprise 3-2 loss away to PEC Zwolle.
The day began horribly for Ronald Koeman's side, as they trailed 2-0 within seven minutes by means of an own goal to striker Graziano Pelle and a Darryl Lachman strike.
Pelle went some way to making up for finding the back of his own net with two goals in as many minutes to draw Feyenoord level with 10 minutes to play in the first half at IJsseldelta Stadion.
But Zwolle ultimately denied their highly rated opponents, as Denni Avdic scored a 75th-minute winner to help his side escape the drop zone and into 15th place.
Vitesse went fifth on the table with their first win in three matches, as they ended Groningen's two-match winning streak with a 2-0 result at home.
Goals to Mike Havenaar and Wilfried Bony, the latter a penalty, saw Vitesse close within two points of Feyenoord and a European spot.
ADO Den Haag made it consecutive wins when they beat 10-man Heerenveen 2-1 at home.
Sven Kums had put the visitors up on 10 minutes, but Den Haag had all the momentum at the break as they not only led but had a man advantage.
Danny Holla and Santi Kolk both got their names on the scoresheet, before Joey van den Berg received his marching orders for the visitors.
Den Haag went eighth on the table, while Heerenveen are just one point above the drop in 14th place.
