The Hague — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands from May 15–17, 2026, marks his second trip to the country and comes after a nine-year gap, Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands Kumar Tuhin said on May 15. Speaking to ANI, Tuhin described bilateral ties as having followed a “remarkable, positive upward trajectory” during the intervening years.
The ambassador said the timing is significant: the visit takes place early in the tenure of the new Dutch government, offering both leaders an opportunity to build rapport, assess recent progress and set priorities for deeper cooperation. He also pointed to renewed momentum in India’s relations with the European Union following the recent conclusion of the India-EU free trade agreement.
Tuhin outlined the visit’s programme and diplomatic objectives. Modi will receive a community welcome and address the Indian diaspora at a World Forum event, after which he will hold official talks. Bilateral engagements include a meeting with Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Netherlands, a state lunch, delegation-level discussions between the two prime ministers, and a dinner hosted by the Dutch prime minister.
The ambassador described the agenda as “active and substantive,” noting that India and the Netherlands already cooperate closely in traditional areas such as trade, investment, water management, agriculture and health. He said the leaders will now aim to provide strategic direction to the partnership and expand collaboration into priority high-tech sectors, including semiconductors, advanced technology, innovation and the maritime domain.
Recalling a previous telephone conversation between India’s prime minister and the then-Dutch prime minister that called for stronger strategic alignment, Tuhin said the current summit-level meetings are expected to deliver concrete guidance and enhanced political commitment at the highest level.
(Reporting by ANI; updated May 15, 2026.)
