 At the age of 21 Valgaeren moved to Dutch Eredivisie club Roda JC where he broke into the first-team in his second season.His competent displays for Roda JC earned him a call up to the Belgium squad by manager Georges Leekens in late 1997.After a lengthy spell out with a cruciate knee ligament injury, Valgaeren went on to have an outstanding season at Roda, winning his first major honour on 21 May 2000 when Roda beat NEC 2–0 in the 2000 Dutch Cup Final.