The Hague

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, where discussions focused on expanding bilateral cooperation and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Dutch King and Queen also hosted a dinner in honour of the Prime Minister during his visit.

During the meeting, PM Modi fondly recalled the State Visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to India in 2019, noting that it had significantly strengthened goodwill and added fresh momentum to India-Netherlands relations.

The leaders reviewed ongoing collaborations in areas such as education, innovation, semiconductors, digital technology, water management and green partnerships, expressing satisfaction over the progress achieved in these sectors.

The Prime Minister thanked the Dutch royal family for their warmth and hospitality and appreciated their continued goodwill towards India.

Sharing details of the interaction on X, PM Modi said India and the Netherlands are linked by common interests and a shared commitment to building a sustainable and future-ready world.

“Met His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace. We exchanged views on deepening India-Netherlands cooperation in technology, innovation, sustainable growth, commerce and water resources. India and the Netherlands are connected by shared interests and a common vision for the future,” the Prime Minister posted.

This marks PM Modi’s second visit to the Netherlands after his earlier trip in 2017. Over the years, bilateral ties have expanded across several strategic sectors including defence, security, green hydrogen, semiconductors and water management.

The Netherlands remains one of India’s largest trading partners in Europe, with bilateral trade valued at USD 27.8 billion during 2024-25. It is also India’s fourth-largest foreign investor, with cumulative FDI inflows of USD 55.6 billion.

People-to-people connections continue to be an important pillar of the relationship. The Netherlands is home to more than 90,000 Indians and persons of Indian origin, in addition to over 200,000 members of the Suriname-Hindustani community. Around 3,500 Indian students are currently studying at Dutch universities.

Earlier in the day, while addressing the Indian community in The Hague, PM Modi praised the strong cultural bond between the two nations and described the city as a “living symbol of Indian friendship.”

Drawing a symbolic comparison between the tulip and the lotus, he said, “The Netherlands is known for tulips, while India is known for the lotus. Both flowers teach us that whether roots are in water or soil, beauty and strength can flourish.”

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Referring to global challenges, including the energy crisis linked to tensions in West Asia, PM Modi said the world is passing through a difficult decade shaped by pandemics, conflicts and economic instability. He stressed that India and the Netherlands are working together to build resilient and future-ready supply chains capable of addressing emerging global uncertainties.