Spurs have finished 17th in the Premier League in back-to-back seasons, narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day last time out. Under De Zerbi, appointed in late March, the club have spent a club-record £237 million this summer.
Van de Ven, who is in talks over a new contract having joined Tottenham from Wolfsburg in 2023 on a six-year deal, said the investment sent an important signal to the squad.
"It's really good that you can see the club has made some changes," the 25-year-old told BBC Sport in Sydney, where Spurs are on their pre-season tour.
"You can see the club has a new ambition. It's something that's really important for players who have been here for a long time.
"Last season was a stressful season, unacceptable from our side, so to leave all of that behind and go into the new season fresh means a lot."
Tottenham had three managers last season, with Thomas Frank sacked after less than eight months following a dismal start, interim boss Igor Tudor leaving after 44 days, and De Zerbi taking over with seven games remaining. Frank struggled to connect with supporters and was criticised for a "safety-first" approach. Van de Ven believes De Zerbi, aided by a full pre-season and a reshaped squad, will bring a marked change in style.
"It's going to be different compared to the manager we had last season," Van de Ven said. "It's going to be more with the ball, I think, more about playing football. I think it's also going to be more enjoyable for people to watch because we'll be playing offensive football.
"You can see he has brought a lot of passion into our group, a lot in terms of mentality and passion on the pitch. It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down. He brings a lot of good energy and, from pre-season, we have really had the time to bring his football into the team. That's really enjoyable."
Spurs broke their transfer record twice in as many days earlier this month, signing Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85 million before landing Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100 million. Van de Ven's Netherlands team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke joined from Brighton for £52 million, alongside free transfers for Marcos Senesi, Andrew Robertson and Martin Dubravka.
"The feeling of the team is really good, to be honest," Van de Ven added. "I have really enjoyed working with him. That's what we have been doing in this pre-season, and the guys who are coming in have been unbelievable as well. They have fit in well to the group."