Van Dijk will also captain Oranje in Germany this summer.
He told UEFA: “You play for the Oranje, the highest honour you can have as a player. You are going to play in a major tournament and represent your country. You have to enjoy it, above all, even in the difficult moments, which will certainly be there.
“As captain, I am also the extension of the coach.
“I know that’s my role, and I’m happy about it, and it suits me. As captain, you know that all eyes are on you, but I have got used to that, and it’s something I enjoy.
“I observe a lot. I naturally look at how everyone behaves, and if someone is in a difficult phase or has lower confidence, you try to act on that too. Ultimately, it’s about everyone being involved as a group, and the success we achieve is a collective one, with no-one left behind or feeling excluded.
“Everything we achieve positively, we do together – the 11 players on the field, but also the rest of the guys and the staff. Everyone is involved, from the equipment managers to the chefs and the players on the bench.”