It's not been the easiest of times for those who see the world through orange tinted glasses. The national team ignominiously failed to qualify for this summer's European Championship while their domestic clubs have fallen by the wayside at continental level and now face the distinct reality of the champion having to qualify for the Champions League group phase.
Today's economic reality - tracing its roots firmly back to the 'Bosman ruling' and subsequent globalisation of the game - doesn't help. Each passing summer - and this one is no exception - squads weaken losing any consistency built over the last year.
Which leads nicely to why the Netherlands top-flight still remains a draw at least for those looking in from the outside.
If life gives you lemons make lemonade; the relative youthfulness of the Eredivisie has seen it position - if not market - itself as the place to watch tomorrow's stars today in an attack-minded league. At one stage last season, only Norway's Tippeligaen averaged more goals per game.
Heading into the forthcoming campaign it doesn't take long to work out who the early contenders are. The traditional "big three" - PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord - followed by AZ as the strong outsider. Each has an argument when presenting their case to be champions, but in all honesty there is no outstanding candidate, which makes it all the more interesting.
PSV, the defending champions, begin as favourites due to their relative stableness. Much of Phillip Cocu's winning squad has been retained with the only notable departure so far being Jeffrey Bruma - their rock in defence originally signed from Chelsea - who left for VfL Wolfsburg.
Last season's top scorers (88 goals) clinched the championship on the final day thanks in large parts to Ajax's misstep in Doetinchem - needing a win they could only muster a draw - proved to be the final act of Frank de Boer's five-and-a-half-year reign as manager.
Peter Bosz was immediately named as his successor as one of nine managerial changes over the summer. The loss of top marksman Arkadiusz Milik (to Napoli earlier in the week) is a blow, however, Ajax - with statistically the best back four in the division - should be there or thereabouts.
Bosz, whose always been committed to daring football, could have the Amsterdammers play some of their most dynamic football in a long while, so it's easy to see why those in power opted for the 52-year-old. Despite enjoying a player career away from the Dutch capital his admiration of the 'Amsterdam school' is well-known and since entering management, he's built a steady reputation as a forward-thinking coach.
A recent two-and-a-half-year stay with Vitesse saw him turn the Arnhem-based club into serious title contenders but for one reason or another - primarily internal squabbling and having the rug constantly pulled underneath him - the glass ceiling remained intact.
One of his former clubs was Feyenoord, now managed by ex-teammate Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who enters a second term as manager hoping to end an 18-year wait for the grandest prize. What's promising is their momentum. Feyenoord ended last season on an 11-game unbeaten run, winning eight of those, a run that comfortably secured a spot behind their main rivals. However, things could have been different - a run of seven consecutive defeats between December and February ended their title hopes and threatened a non-top three finish.
AZ for a while seemed likely to usurp them. From languishing in 11th place a week before the winter break, they racked up 41 points from an available 54. While it wasn't enough to overtake the Rotterdammers, such power of recovery is a testament to the collective spirit forged by John van den Brom.
He's positioned them as one of the four best teams nationwide, but it would be remiss not to mention the undeniable influence of Vincent Janssen; the Eredivisie golden boot winner, notching 27 goals across 34 appearances, and now looking to battle Harry Kane for a starting spot at Spurs.
Janssen will be a loss, there's no doubt, but AZ have this recent knack of successfully replacing their prolific goal scorers. Don't be surprised if his replacement - the wonderfully named Fred Friday, who arrives from Lillestrøm - notches double figures.
FC Utrecht, Heracles and FC Groningen, meanwhile, are looking to build on their excellent finishes last season. Each club eclipsed the 50-point mark and are under the guidance of a brilliant young Dutch coach in Erik ten Hag, John Stegeman and the recently appointed Ernest Faber, respectively.
PEC Zwolle and Vitesse are desperate to put last season's disappointment behind them. It wasn't long ago both harboured ambitions of breaking into the top four, in particular "Vitas" - now playing to the tune of Henk Fraser - who ended the previous campaign averaging the most possession per game (56.2%), but level on points with fierce rivals NEC.
Many predict the Nijmegen-based outfit to endure another "Jekyll and Hyde" season - even under the fresh auspices of Peter Hyballa, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen last month - and the same is also expected of ADO Den Haag and Heerenveen - last season's most ill-disciplined side - both of who are also under new management. There's no shortage of talent, but for one reason or another they struggle to get the best out of them on a consistent basis. There is that feeling every clever win or impressive performance will be followed by a disappointing result. Željko Petrović and Jurgen Streppel will hope to change what has come to be expected.
Roda JC, now guided by former player Yannis Anastasiou, and Excelsior if they're not too careful will be dragged into another relegation battle. The latter barely survived, finishing one point above the drop zone after everything was said and done, and it led to Alfons Groenendijk's departure and he's since been replaced by Mitchell van der Gaag.
Just directly below them were Willem II, who secured their top-flight status by coming through the relegation play-offs and since welcomed Erwin van de Looi, formerly of FC Groningen, as their boss.
Excelsior's survival means we'll be getting three Rotterdam derbies this season. Sparta Rotterdam return to the top tier after a six-year spell in the Eerste Divisie. Joining them are Go Ahead Eagles, who bounced straight back up after suffering the ignominy of relegation in 2014. One club thought to be demoted was FC Twente on account of their financial mismanagement. However, they were given a reprieve, and - while they are set to lose several of their big hitters, most notably Hakim Ziyech - all eyes will be on them.
Dutch football is understandably at a crossroads, but it has bounced back before and there's no reason why it can't do so again. A nation rich in tradition, with its own unique culture and identity, will always find a way.
Naysayers will question the product's quality, perhaps labelling it a "Mickey Mouse league", and pointing to a lack of world-class names, but both grossly unfair. It goes without saying, what the Eredivisie lacks in quality, it makes up for it in drama - as touched upon it's a league where attack is the be all and end all - and as a consequence it has become one the more competitive and unpredictable competitions across Europe. For what it's worth, like in so many seasons gone before, we could be watching a future Ballon d'Or nominee in action.
How do you think the 2016/17 Eredivisie season will pan out? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
