The story of the van der Veeken family reflects the enduring contribution of Dutch migrants to Australian football, spanning two generations of commitment to the game in South Australia.
Born in The Hague, Jan van der Veeken arrived in Australia in 1950 as a young child with his family. Upon settling in Adelaide, his father, John van der Veeken Sr., quickly became a pillar of the local football community. Drawing from his experience in the Netherlands, John Sr. immersed himself in all aspects of the game – as a player, referee, coach and administrator. He played for Dutch-founded clubs and became a familiar face on and off the field in Adelaide’s multicultural football circles during the 1950s through the 1970s.
This deep-rooted passion for the game was passed down to his son, Jan – known in Australia as John Vander Veeken Jr. He began his involvement in football as a player with Orange and Sturt Lions, two clubs with strong ethnic community foundations. However, his lasting impact came as a coach, club founder and football development leader.
John Jr.’s extensive service to football has included:
- Coaching junior representative teams in the Adelaide Hills Junior Soccer Association in the 1980s
- Under-18 coach at Blackwood Soccer Club during the 1980s and early 1990s
- Head coach at Mercedes Old Collegiate Soccer Club from 1997 to 2003
- Co-founding and serving as president of Sturt Lions Soccer Club in 2003, then coaching its junior teams from 2003 to 2018
- Vice-chairman of the South Zone Council at Football Federation South Australia, where he continues to contribute to grassroots governance
In 2021, John Jr. was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to football, marking national recognition of his decades-long dedication to the sport.
Today (2025), the van der Veeken legacy lives on in South Australian football through the structures, players and communities they have helped to build. Their story is emblematic of the broader Dutch-Australian impact on the beautiful game – blending a passion for football with a deep commitment to community.
