PM Modi, who arrived in the Netherlands on Friday after a brief stopover in the UAE, is also scheduled to hold talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. His visit from May 15 to 17 marks his second trip to the country after 2017 and comes at what officials described as an “important juncture” in India-Netherlands relations.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit carries a “rich and substantive agenda” focused on expanding cooperation in strategic sectors including semiconductors, clean energy, defence, innovation, maritime security and education. India and the Netherlands have significantly broadened their partnership in recent years beyond traditional areas such as trade, agriculture, water and health.
The Netherlands is among India’s largest trading partners in Europe, with bilateral trade valued at $27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India’s fourth-largest investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment amounting to $55.6 billion, officials said.
Addressing members of the Indian diaspora in The Hague, PM Modi described India as a “land of opportunities” undergoing an “unprecedented transformation”, saying the country’s aspirations were “no longer limited to its borders”.
“Today India is saying we don’t just want transformation, we want the best, we want the fastest,” he said in his over 40-minute address. He highlighted India’s startup ecosystem, noting that the country now has nearly 125 active unicorns and is the world’s third-largest startup hub.
The prime minister said India aims to emerge as a global manufacturing hub, leader in green energy and “growth engine of the world”, while also expressing ambitions to host the Olympics. Referring to India’s technological and scientific progress, Modi cited the country’s successful G20 presidency, its AI summit and the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission.
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PM Modi also talked about the growing India-Netherlands cooperation in areas such as green hydrogen, supply chains and clean energy, saying the two countries were working together to create a “trusted, transparent and future-ready supply chain”.
Drawing a cultural comparison, the PM said the Netherlands is known for tulips while India is known for the lotus. “Both the tulip and the lotus teach us that whether the roots are in water or in the earth, one gains both beauty and strength,” he said.
The prime minister also highlighted sports as a strong link between the two nations, particularly cricket and hockey. Referring to the Netherlands’ performance in the recent T20 World Cup, PM Modi praised Indian-origin Dutch cricketers, including Teja Nidamanuru, Vikramjit Singh and Aryan Dutt.
He also acknowledged the contribution of Dutch coaches to Indian hockey, specifically mentioning Sjoerd Marijne, who guided the Indian women’s hockey team to a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics.
During his speech, PM Modi said the Indian diaspora could act as a “trusted bridge” in expanding India-Europe economic ties, especially as the India-EU Free Trade Agreement gains momentum.
The Netherlands is home to more than 90,000 NRIs and persons of Indian origin, along with over 200,000 members of the Suriname-Hindustani community. Around 3,500 Indian students are currently studying at Dutch universities.
Following the Netherlands leg of his tour, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Sweden, Norway and Italy.
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