Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Saturday as part of the second leg of his five-nation tour. Upon landing at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, he was received by Rear Admiral Ludger Brummelaar, Adjutant-General and Chief of the Military Household of His Majesty the King, Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen, Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands Kumar Tuhin, and other senior Dutch officials.
PM Modi's Remarks on Arrival
In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister stated that he would meet Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and call on King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. 'Landed in Amsterdam. This visit to the Netherlands comes at a time when the India-EU Free Trade Agreement has given a major impetus to trade and investment linkages,' PM Modi wrote. He added that the visit offers an opportunity to deepen relations in areas such as semiconductors, water, clean energy, and more. 'Will be holding talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten and will be calling on Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. I also look forward to addressing a community programme on the morning of the 16th,' he said.
Key Agenda Items
During the two-day visit, PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with his Dutch counterpart, Rob Jetten, and pay a visit to the King and Queen. He will also address the Indian community at a special event on Saturday. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with Dutch business leaders to discuss investment opportunities and economic cooperation.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen the multifaceted partnership between India and the Netherlands. 'The visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the multifaceted India–Netherlands partnership and to engage with the largest Indian diaspora on mainland Europe,' Jaiswal said.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
India and the Netherlands have deepened their relationship in recent years, moving beyond traditional trade and investment to include cooperation in key sectors such as water management, agriculture, and healthcare. The Netherlands is among India’s top trading partners in Europe, with bilateral trade reaching USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India’s fourth-largest foreign investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) of USD 55.6 billion.
The visit underscores the growing strategic partnership between the two nations, with a focus on high-technology areas like semiconductors and clean energy. The Indian diaspora in the Netherlands, the largest on the European mainland, is expected to play a key role in furthering people-to-people ties.
