Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 17 May 2025 participated in a community programme in The Hague, Netherlands, where members of the Indian diaspora gathered in large numbers to welcome him, expressing excitement and a deep sense of pride at his visit. The event marks Modi's second visit to the Netherlands, his first since 2017, and comes at what officials describe as a significant moment in India-Netherlands bilateral relations.

Diaspora Turns Out in Force

Members of the Indian community in the Netherlands assembled ahead of the Prime Minister's arrival, describing the occasion as historic and personally meaningful. 'We are honoured to welcome him. We are all excited for his arrival,' one diaspora member said. Another noted, 'Prime Minister Modi has come to our country, the Netherlands. This is a matter of pride for us.'

A representative of the Ramayana World organisation was among those present, saying the group was 'very excited to welcome and meet Prime Minister Modi.' An attendee also publicly thanked Ambassador Kumar Tuhin and the Embassy of India in the Netherlands for organising the event and extending invitations to community members.

Cultural Welcome and Modi's Social Media Post

The welcome extended to the Prime Minister included classical dance performances spanning Kathak, Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Mohiniyattam, alongside a Garba performance. Modi shared glimpses of the reception on social media platform X, writing: 'Yesterday's welcome by the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands was remarkable.' He followed up with a second post sharing additional visuals from the community event.

Notably, the cultural spread reflected the breadth of India's regional traditions, a recurring feature of diaspora events during Modi's overseas visits — a deliberate projection of India's civilisational diversity on an international stage.

Bilateral Agenda

Beyond the community engagement, Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten and met King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima on Saturday. He is also expected to interact with leading Dutch business leaders during his stay.

The visit, which runs until 17 May, is being positioned as a platform to deepen strategic and economic cooperation between the two nations. India and the Netherlands share significant trade ties, with the Netherlands consistently ranking among India's top trading partners within the European Union.

Context and Significance

This is Modi's second visit to the Netherlands, following his earlier trip in 2017. The eight-year gap underscores the renewed diplomatic momentum the current visit is intended to signal. For the Indian diaspora — estimated to number in the tens of thousands across the Netherlands — the Prime Minister's presence carries both symbolic and community-building weight.

With India's foreign policy increasingly emphasising diaspora engagement as a soft-power instrument, events like the one in The Hague serve a dual purpose: reinforcing community identity abroad and projecting India's global standing to host nations.

The outcomes of Modi's bilateral meetings with Dutch leadership are expected to be detailed in joint statements before his departure on 17 May.