Prime Minister Modi's Visit to the Netherlands: Strengthening Bilateral Ties
Modi's Arrival in Amsterdam
Modi being received by the Adjutant-General to the King of the Netherlands and Chief of the Military Household Rear Admiral Ludger Brummelaar, at Amsterdam Airport. (Photo:PTI)
Amsterdam, May 15: On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in the Netherlands, marking the second stop of his five-nation tour. During this visit, he is set to engage in discussions with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten to enhance collaboration in various sectors, including trade, technology, defense, and renewable energy.
Upon his arrival, PM Modi was welcomed at the airport by Rear Admiral Ludger Brummelaar, the Adjutant-General and Chief of the Military Household of His Majesty the King, along with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and India's Ambassador to the Netherlands, Kumar Tuhin, among other senior officials.
In a social media update shortly after landing, the Prime Minister expressed, "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."
He further noted, "It offers an opportunity to deepen relations in areas like semiconductors, water, clean energy and more."
Modi is expected to hold discussions with Prime Minister Jetten and pay a visit to King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.
Additionally, the Prime Minister's office indicated that he is looking forward to participating in a community program during his stay.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, this visit will serve as a platform to strengthen the diverse India-Netherlands partnership and engage with the largest Indian community in mainland Europe.
Before arriving in the Netherlands, Modi had a brief two-and-a-half-hour stop in the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.
The Prime Minister's visit to the Netherlands, scheduled from May 15 to 17, marks his second trip to the country since 2017 and is considered significant for the evolving India-Netherlands relationship.
In recent years, India and the Netherlands have broadened their cooperation beyond traditional sectors such as trade and investment, focusing on priority areas like water, agriculture, and health.
The partnership has expanded into strategic domains, including technology, innovation, defense, security, semiconductors, renewable energy, education, and maritime affairs, as noted by the MEA.
The Netherlands stands as one of India's key trade partners in Europe, with bilateral trade reaching USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India's fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment, totaling USD 55.6 billion.