A HIGH-LEVEL trade delegation from the Netherlands visited AFL House on Friday, keen to understand Australian football's place in the community.
The delegation included the Dutch Minister for Economic Affairs, Mr Henk Kamp, the Deputy Director of European and International Affairs, Ms Yvette van Eechoud, and officials from various Dutch sports including the Royal Dutch Football Federation.
They met AFL general managers of football operations, Mark Evans, corporate affairs, Liz Lukin, and game development, Simon Lethlean, to hear about competitive balance, the game's place in Australian culture and the reach of community football and the development of the women's competition.
The Netherlands are regarded as pioneers in soccer, particularly in the area of talent development with their concept of total football leading the Dutch to three World Cup finals.
The CEO of the Royal Dutch Football Federation’s Academy, Mr Jen Dirk van der Zee, felt their game could learn from some of the innovations occurring in Australian football.
The visit was part of a wider trade mission led by the King and Queen of Holland throughout Australia and New Zealand, who former Fremantle footballer Matt de Boer met at an official function in Canberra on Tuesday as his grandparents emigrated from Holland in 1952.
De Boer, who played 138 games for the Dockers before being delisted at the end of this season, has a commerce degree and is looking to study for an MBA.
