Throughout the 2000s some of Australia’s most talented and established footballers made the Eredivisie their home – often to startling effect.

First Graham Arnold, then Zeljko Kalac cemented Australia’s place in the land of blonde hair and bicycles.

They, among others trailblazed the path for the likes of Brett Emerton, Jason Culina, Brett Holman and Tommy Oar to stamp a distinctly southern cross shaped mark across the Scandinavian powerhouse.

Now, promisingly for a Socceroos side starved of top-draw European talent, there’s a new breed of lesser-known Australians making the Eredivisie their home.

Brett Emerton during his Feyenoord days against Luis Figo & Real Madrid

There are still notable Aussies currently gracing the Dutch top flight - Brad Jones is excelling with career-best form as the number one stopper at title hopefuls Feyenoord while Craig Goodwin at Sparta Rotterdam and Jason Davidson at FC Groningen have made their mark in the Dutch top flight.

Others, however, are less familiar. 23-year-old former Brisbane Roar youth product Kenneth Dougall regularly features alongside Goodwin at Rotterdam, having joined the club before their promotion from the Eerste Divisie.

The prodigious Daniel De Silva previously played at Roda JC, where he was spent time with Tomi Juric and Rostyn Griffiths. Meanwhile, Stefan Mauk is flying the Aussie flag at NEC Breda, following his impressive spells for Melbourne City and Adelaide United.

Craig Goodwin in action this season for Sparta Rotterdam

Ajdin Hrustic is another Aussie flying under the radar, who’s quickly making a name for himself in the Netherlands, playing alongside Davidson in Groningen.

The 20-year-old former South Melbourne wonder-kid is also a product of the Schalke and Nottingham Forrest youth systems.

That Hrustic chose to continue his development in the Netherlands symbolises the growing tendency among Australian youth to view the Eredivisie as an ideal springboard to a European career.

It’s a sentiment not without its critics.

Sebastian Pasquali while with Victory against Juventus last year

Football Federation Australia (FFA) notably tried to dissuade 17-year-old former Melbourne Victory midfielder Sebastian Pasquali from joining Ajax’s youth side last season, after only three A-League appearances.

Due to FIFA regulations, despite signing last season Pasquali is yet to make an appearance for Ajax Amsterdam’s youth side, but he has missed an entire A-League season in the process.

Things haven’t fared much better for 19-year-old Victory product Thomas Deng, who has similarly struggled for game time with PSV Eindhoven’s development team.

There are suggestions that prodigal Aussies are better off maturing within the A-League, before eventually leaving as adults to pursue more concrete opportunities overseas.

Thomas Deng hasn't played much for PSV II

But who could deny the drawcard effect of arguably the strongest development hub in Europe? Last season, the Eredivisie profited over $230 million in player transfers alone.

Whether young Aussies are better off sweating it out through 40-degree days in Gosford or swooning around Patrick Kluivert and Marco Van Basten in some of the world’s most prestigious academies, it’s still too early to tell.

The answer, most likely, depends on the player.

Brad Jones is on the verge of the Eredivisie title with Feyenoord

But, while the relative virtues of staying or going will only tell with time, there’s no arguing a new era of Aussies are emerging, proudly continuing to make their presence felt among the tulips and wooden shoes.

A knowledge and passion for football permeates throughout Holland and – despite a decline since the glory days – the Eredivisie still boasts a unique aura for young Australians.

Strangely enough, the Down Under connection doesn’t even end with footballers. Australian media tycoon Rupert Murdoch recently bought the exclusive television rights to air the Eredivisie through his Dutch Foxtel subsidiary

It seems Australians are taking over Dutch football in more ways than one.