PM Modi meets Dutch royals in The Hague, signs Strategic Partnership to deepen India-Netherlands ties
Synopsis
Modi's second visit to the Netherlands is more than a diplomatic courtesy call — the signing of a formal Strategic Partnership signals India is locking in a key European ally in semiconductors, water technology, and defence at a moment when global supply chains are being redrawn. The 90,000-strong Indian diaspora and a 200,000-member Suriname Hindustani community give this partnership an unusually deep people-to-people foundation.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi met King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague on 16 May 2025 .
The visit includes the signing of a Strategic Partnership to institutionalise India-Netherlands bilateral cooperation.
Key sectors covered: technology, semiconductors, renewable energy, defence, water, agriculture, health, and the maritime domain .
The Netherlands hosts over 90,000 non-resident Indians , a 200,000-strong Suriname Hindustani community , and approximately 3,500 Indian students .
This is Modi's second visit to the Netherlands, described by officials as coming at a critical juncture in bilateral ties.
Modi also addressed an Indian community reception in The Hague , highlighting diaspora contributions and sports ties in cricket and hockey .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 16 May held talks with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, exchanging perspectives on strengthening bilateral cooperation across technology, innovation, sustainable growth, commerce, and water resources. The visit, Modi's second to the Netherlands, centres on deepening bilateral relations and the signing of a Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
What Was Discussed
In a post on X following the royal meeting, Prime Minister Modi wrote: 'Met His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace. It was wonderful exchanging perspectives on boosting India-Netherlands friendship across key sectors like technology, innovation, sustainable growth, commerce and water resources.' He added: 'India and the Netherlands are connected by shared interests and a shared belief in building a future-ready planet.'
The bilateral agenda spans both traditional and emerging areas. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India-Netherlands cooperation has expanded significantly in recent years beyond trade and investment into strategic domains including semiconductors, renewable energy, defence, security, education, and the maritime domain. The MEA also highlighted the longstanding WAH framework — covering water, agriculture, and health — as a pillar of the partnership.
People-to-People Ties at the Core
The Netherlands is home to over 90,000 non-resident Indians and persons of Indian origin, alongside a Suriname Hindustani Community numbering over 200,000. Approximately 3,500 Indian students are currently enrolled in Dutch universities, with a growing concentration in innovation-driven fields.
Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi attended an Indian community reception in The Hague, where he was greeted by a large gathering of the Indian diaspora and friends of India. Addressing the audience, he praised the diaspora for its contributions to Dutch society and described it as a 'living bridge of friendship' between the two nations. He also acknowledged the Suriname Hindustani community's enduring cultural ties with India and their efforts to preserve heritage across generations.
Sports and Soft Power
Modi noted that sporting linkages — particularly cricket and hockey — were adding fresh vibrancy to people-to-people ties. The Netherlands has a storied history in field hockey, and the connection provides a natural cultural common ground with India. He also highlighted the growing presence of Indian technology professionals in the Dutch economy as a driver of contemporary partnership.
'Deeply touched by the immense enthusiasm and affection of the Indian community at the community programme in The Hague. Their energy and connection with India are deeply special,' Modi posted on X after the event.
Strategic Significance of the Visit
This is Prime Minister Modi's second visit to the Netherlands and comes at what officials describe as an important juncture in bilateral ties. The Netherlands is a key European Union member and a global hub for semiconductor equipment manufacturing — an area of acute strategic interest for India as it builds out its domestic chip ecosystem. The signing of a formal Strategic Partnership signals an intent to institutionalise cooperation that has so far grown organically across multiple sectors.
Further details on the scope and timelines of the Strategic Partnership are expected to be released by the MEA in the coming days.
Point of View
Trackable commitment. The Netherlands is not a random European stop: it is home to ASML, the world's sole supplier of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines, making Dutch goodwill directly relevant to India's semiconductor ambitions. What mainstream coverage underplays is that the WAH framework — water, agriculture, health — has been operational for years, and the real news is whether the new Strategic Partnership adds binding targets or remains a rebranding exercise. The diaspora optics are strong, but the strategic test will be how quickly semiconductor and renewable energy cooperation moves from MoU to deployment.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership signed during PM Modi's visit?
The Strategic Partnership is a formal bilateral framework signed during PM Modi's visit to The Hague on 16 May 2025, aimed at institutionalising cooperation across sectors including technology, semiconductors, renewable energy, defence, water, agriculture, health, and the maritime domain. It builds on years of organic bilateral engagement and signals a deeper, structured commitment between the two countries.
Why is PM Modi's Netherlands visit strategically significant?
The Netherlands is a critical European partner for India, particularly in semiconductor technology — it is home to ASML, the world's leading supplier of chip-making equipment. Deepening ties with the Netherlands directly supports India's domestic semiconductor ambitions and broader technology strategy.
How large is the Indian community in the Netherlands?
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Netherlands is home to over 90,000 non-resident Indians and persons of Indian origin, along with a Suriname Hindustani community of over 200,000. Approximately 3,500 Indian students are currently enrolled in Dutch universities.
Which sectors are covered under India-Netherlands bilateral cooperation?
Cooperation spans trade, investment, water, agriculture, health (the WAH framework), technology, innovation, defence, security, semiconductors, renewable energy, education, and the maritime domain, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Is this PM Modi's first visit to the Netherlands?
No, this is PM Modi's second visit to the Netherlands. Officials have described it as coming at an important juncture in bilateral ties, coinciding with the signing of the Strategic Partnership.
