The Eredivisie has a reputation as a league where talented players can develop and then move to the biggest clubs in Europe. Many well-known names took this route.
Luis Suárez
The Uruguayan scored a huge number of goals for Ajax before joining Liverpool in 2011. His time in the Netherlands helped to prepare him for the Premier League.
Christian Eriksen
Eriksen came through the Ajax system and won several Dutch titles before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2013.
Van Nistelrooy and Robben
Ruud van Nistelrooy left PSV for Manchester United, where he became one of the best strikers in the Premier League. Arjen Robben moved from PSV to Chelsea and later became a star at Bayern Munich.
A route for young talent
The chance to play regularly at a young age remains the main reason why the Eredivisie is so respected as a development league.