A first half which didn't see many chances saw Japanese striker Koki Ogawa almost score a backheel goal after half an hour, were it not for his attempt just creeping past the far post.
Sami Ouaissa opened the scoring for NEC just a couple minutes later with a beautiful strike from considerable distance, curling in a free kick from the edge of the box.
It didn't take long for Fortuna to equalise when Thierry Rosier thumped in a loose ball and put Fortuna alongside just five minutes after Ouaissa's opener.
NEC were the only side of the two to keep creating chances after the break and came close through the likes of Ouaissa and Brayann Pereira and Vito van Crooij.
It eventually was Van Crooij who shot NEC back into the lead when the newly-transferred attacker saw his corner land straight in the goal. Fortuna called for a foul on goalkeeper Luuk Koopmans but rather luckily for the home side, referee Marc Nagtegaal waved the appeals off.
Just two minutes later Indonesian international Calvin Verdonk fired in NEC's third when the left-back pulled the trigger and left Koopmans standing.
NEC closed out the game ten minutes before full-time when Thomas Ouwejan attentively picked up a loose ball and put it in Koopmans' net after Bryan Linssen got denied by the Fortuna stopper.
NEC's first win since early November came at a good time with direct rivals Willem II, PEC Zwolle and Heracles Almelo all getting good results this weekend.
Fortuna Sittard failed to keep up with Go Ahead Eagles after their win against FC Groningen and now have to look behind in the fight for a spot in the Conference League play-offs.