Fresh from a week off given to them by the KNVB for a potential European qualifier, Feyenoord started with Bart Nieuwkoop at right-back in absence of Jordan Lotomba and with Givairo Read not fully fit. Luciano Valente was given a start in midfield, with Hwang-In Beom also dealing with an injury.
A quiet first half was broken open by Australian left-back Jordan Bos, who rocketed a loose ball from a corner into the top corner, giving Feyenoord the lead after 29 minutes.
A couple of attempts from Leo Sauer, who was largely unlucky in the first half, could not double Feyenoord's lead, which remained at a single goal at the halfway mark.
Feyenoord gave little brother Sparta more to think about shortly after the break when Ayase Ueda smartly turned away from his defender and snuck the ball past Joel Drommel in the 48th minute.
Just one minute later, Sparta captain Bruno Martins Indi was forced to leave the pitch after pulling down Ueda as he was about to break free, prompting referee Serdar Gozubuyuk to show the veteran a red card.
Ueda then put Feyenoord up three in the 68th minute after another smart move away from his defender, shortly after which Sem Steijn nearly scored Feyenoord's fourth, but the captain hit the crossbar.
A flawless game looked to go Feyenoord's way comfortably, and their afternoon was made even sweeter by Quinten Timber, who scored Feyenoord's fourth goal in the 93rd minute with a cool finish.
Feyenoord head into the first international break of the season on top of the Eredivisie. Up next for Van Persie's men is a home game against sc Heerenveen on September 13th.
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