Van Dijk had been weighing up his international future after Ronald Koeman's departure last June, following the Netherlands' last-32 exit to Morocco at this summer's World Cup.
Talks with his replacement, Barcelona great Xavi, proved decisive, and the Liverpool captain explained to ESPN what settled his mind.
"Obviously it was a massive decision," he said.
"I had to feel the confidence and the combination of respect and joy and everything I wanted. That was from the first second the case, so the conversation didn't need to be that long."
He added: "The conversation was very good, so I am really looking forward to meeting up for the important four games. Now we have to make the next two years a fantastic time."
Van Dijk has 96 caps for the Netherlands, with 13 goals, and will continue playing for his country until at least Euro 2028, meaning he will represent the Oranje until he is at least 37. Xavi takes charge for the first time on Thursday, when the Netherlands open their Nations League campaign against Germany, coached by Jürgen Klopp, who managed Van Dijk at Liverpool.
Liverpool have also improved defensively at the start of the season, in part thanks to Van Dijk, keeping three successive clean sheets in the league for the first time since 2024-25.
He credited the whole team rather than just the back line: "Clean sheets are always a good sign. Everyone is playing a big part in that. I know how sometimes it can work, where maybe only the defenders or the goalkeeper get the plaudits for it, but it is down to everyone."
Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018, and has since made 380 competitive appearances for the club, scoring 36 goals and providing 16 assists.