Born in Arnhem, Gelderland, Van der Meyde signed for Ajax as a youngster, and made his first-team debut aged just 18, helping to a 1–0 win against Twente on 12 November 1997.

After leaving Inter, strong speculation suggested Van der Meyde would return to Ajax, with additional reported interest from French club Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur in England.

In the summer of 2006, Van der Meyde proved once again to be the centre of much speculation regarding his future, having failed to properly settle at Everton and making only ten appearances in his first season thanks to a combination of injuries and rumours of alcoholism.

He was fined by Everton for breach of discipline and, to further add to a miserable week, his house was burgled during a friendly with Athletic Bilbao five days later: his Ferrari, Mini Cooper, and dog were amongst the items stolen.

Van der Meyde returned to first-team football on 7 December 2008, playing five minutes for an injury-hit Everton side in a 2–3 home defeat to Aston Villa.

The following month, he was brought on as a substitute in the FA Cup fourth round replay against Liverpool, providing the assist to Dan Gosling's winning strike in the 118th minute;[12] he was released in June 2009, after his contract expired.

He helped the country reach the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2004, featuring in four games – all starts – and assisting Ruud van Nistelrooy in the 1–1 group stage draw to Germany,[16] but being overlooked for the last-four match against Portugal.

[1][2] In his second year at Everton, Van der Meyde's wife and daughters returned to the Netherlands to enable his youngest child to have access to hospital treatment and to maintain close ties with family members.

[1][2] Van der Meyde began an affair, which his wife discovered after she paid a private detective to follow his activities;[1][2] this resultantly lead to his divorce, and also a break-up with his girlfriend.

[1][2] After his contract with Everton was terminated at the end of the fourth season due to recurring injuries, personal problems, and falling out with manager David Moyes, Van der Meyde remained as a resident of Liverpool for a year.