The incidence of oesophageal cancer is on the rise, particularly due to an increase in the number of adenocarcinomas of the distal oesophagus. Adenomas and squamous cell carcinomas are the most common histological subtypes; each should be considered as a different entity. The diagnosis 'oesophageal cancer' is confirmed on the basis of histopathological investigation of biopsies, whereas tumour staging is conducted through transoesophageal endoscopic ultrasound and FDG-PET/CT diagnostics. There are various options to treat patients with oesophageal cancer, such as endoscopic resection, multimodal therapy or definitive chemoradiotherapy. Since 2012, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery is the standard treatment for oesophageal cancer, except with regard to patients with a T1 or M1 tumour. In the Netherlands, most surgical procedures are now minimally invasive procedures. Despite improved treatment options, mortality rates associated with oesophageal cancer remain high.