As a teenager, John represented Holland at every level, featuring for the U16 team at the European Championship and going on to captain the Dutch team at the FIFA 2000 U20 World Cup in Argentina.

He earned his first senior cap from Dick Advocaat in February 2004, in a friendly against the USA, at his home stadium, the Amsterdam Arena, when he slotted in at right-back.

His first international goal followed two months later, in a friendly against Greece, by which point he was already slotting into his preferred position at the heart of the defence. At Euro 2004 he started Holland’s first two games, but, after picking up two yellow cards against the Czech Republic, was sidelined and played no further part in the tournament.

At the 2006 World Cup, John again played the first two games, before being rested for the third against Argentina. He then appeared from the bench in the second round game against Portugal, which turned out to be Holland’s last in the tournament.

Viewed as the natural successor to the now retired Jaap Stam as the bedrock of the Dutch defence, John has firmly established himself as a regular at the national team. He took part in the European championship finals for the second time in 2008 playing three matches, one of them from the start.

Caps: 43 Goals: 6
W: 27 D: 9 L: 7

Date	Opponent	Competition	Score**	Goals
2004
18 Feb 2004	v USA (H)	Friendly	1-0
31 Mar 2004	v France (H)	Friendly	0-0
28 Apr 2004	v Greece (H)	Friendly	4-0
29 May 2004	v Belgium (H)	Friendly	0-1
01 Jun 2004	v Faroe Islands (H)	Friendly	3-0
05 Jun 2004	v Republic of Ireland (H)	Friendly	0-1
15 Jun 2004	v Germany (Portugal)	EC	1-1
19 Jun 2004	v Czech Republic (Portugal)	EC	2-3
26 Jun 2004	v Sweden (Portugal)	EC	0-0 ***
18 Aug 2004	v Sweden (A)	Friendly	2-2
08 Sep 2004	v Czech Republic (H)	WCQ	2-0
13 Oct 2004	v Finland (H)	WCQ	3-1
17 Nov 2004	v Andorra (A)	WCQ	3-0
2005
09 Feb 2005	v England (A)	Friendly	0-0
04 Jun 2005	v Romania (H)	WCQ	2-0
08 Jun 2005	v Finland (A)	WCQ	4-0
17 Aug 2005	v Germany (H)	Friendly	2-2
2006
01 Jun 2006	v Mexico (H)	Friendly	2-1
04 Jun 2006	v Australia (H)	Friendly	1-1
11 Jun 2006	v Serbia & Montenegro (Germany)	WC	1-0
16 Jun 2006	v Ivory Coast (Germany)	WC	2-1
25 Jun 2006	v Portugal (Germany)	WC	0-1
16 Aug 2006	v Republic of Ireland (A)	Friendly	4-0
02 Sep 2006	v Luxembourg (A)	ECQ	1-0
06 Sep 2006	v Belarus (H)	ECQ	3-0
2007
28 Mar 2007	v Slovenia (A)	ECQ	1-0
02 Jun 2007	v Korea Republic (A)	Friendly	2-0
06 Jun 2007	v Thailand (A)	Friendly	3-1
22 Aug 2007	v Switzerland (A)	Friendly	1-2
08 Sep 2007	v Bulgaria (H)	ECQ	2-0
17 Oct 2007	v Slovenia (H)	ECQ	2-0
2008
06 Feb 2008	v Croatia (A)	Friendly	3-0
26 Mar 2008	v Austria (A)	Friendly	4-3
24 May 2008	v Ukraine (H)	Friendly	3-0
29 May 2008	v Denmark (H)	Friendly	1-1
01 June 2008	v Wales (H)	Friendly	2-0
09 June 2008	v Italy (Berne)	EC	3-0
17 June 2008	v Romania (Berne)	EC	2-0
20 June 2008	v Russia (Basel)	EC	1-3
20 Aug 2008	v Russia (A)	Friendly	1-1
06 Sep 2008	v Australia (H)	Friendly	1-2
10 Sep 2008	v Macedonia (A)	WCQ	2-1
19 Nov 2008	v Sweden (H)	Friendly	3-1

*Correct as of 20 November 2008
** Holland score shown first
*** Holland won 5-4 after penalties with John Heitinga scoring the second goal.