Amsterdam / The Hague — May 16, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Netherlands late Friday night to begin the first leg of his four-nation Europe tour, receiving a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora and Dutch officials amid growing India-Europe strategic and economic ties.
The visit is expected to focus heavily on trade, investment, green technology, innovation and people-to-people engagement as India deepens cooperation with key European partners.
Upon his arrival in Amsterdam, Prime Minister Modi briefly interacted with members of the Indian community, many of whom gathered to welcome him with cultural performances and traditional celebrations.
Cultural Welcome Highlights Modi’s Arrival
At his hotel in The Hague, Prime Minister Modi attended a special cultural program featuring Indian traditional dance and music performances.
Artists from the cultural troupe performed Garba and other traditional presentations in honor of the Indian leader’s visit.
“We performed Garba to welcome Prime Minister Modi. We also had the opportunity to interact with him. Everyone here is extremely excited about his visit to the Netherlands,” said Gautam, a member of the performing group.
Another performer, Reema, described the experience as “amazing” and said the artists felt honored to present Indian culture before the prime minister.
Modi was also seen appreciating a spiritual musical presentation organized during his stay in The Hague.
Key Meetings Planned With Dutch Royal Family
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to meet Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, along with senior political and business leaders.
According to Indian officials, the trip is aimed at strengthening India-Netherlands relations beyond traditional trade and agriculture into emerging sectors such as semiconductors, renewable energy, maritime cooperation and defense technology.
The Netherlands remains one of India’s most important economic partners in Europe.
Indian government data shows bilateral trade between the two countries reached approximately $27.8 billion during fiscal year 2024-25. The Netherlands is also India’s fourth-largest foreign investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment estimated at $55.6 billion.
Strong Indian Community Presence in Netherlands
Officials highlighted the important role played by the Indian-origin and non-resident Indian community in strengthening bilateral ties.
More than 90,000 people of Indian origin and NRIs currently live in the Netherlands. In addition, the country is home to over 200,000 members of the Surinamese-Hindustani community.
Around 3,500 Indian students are also currently enrolled at Dutch universities.
Norway Visit to Mark Historic Diplomatic Milestone
As part of the broader Europe tour, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Norway on May 18, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the Nordic country in more than four decades.
During the Norway leg, Modi is expected to hold talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on trade, investment, green shipping, blue economy initiatives and space cooperation.
He will also address the India-Norway Business and Research Summit.
On May 19, Modi will participate in the third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo alongside the leaders of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Nordic nations have emerged as important partners for India in areas including innovation, digital transformation, renewable energy and advanced technologies.
Sweden Visit to Focus on AI and Green Transition
Following the Netherlands and Norway visits, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Sweden, where discussions are expected to center on artificial intelligence, climate action, defense cooperation and emerging technologies.
The Indian leader will also attend a major European industry roundtable conference as the chief guest.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to participate in the event alongside top European business leaders and policymakers.
Officials said the visit aims to further strengthen the India-Sweden innovation partnership while expanding collaboration in sustainable technologies and industrial modernization.
Final Stop in Italy Includes Talks With Giorgia Meloni
The final phase of Prime Minister Modi’s Europe tour will take him to Italy on May 19 and 20.
During the visit, Modi is scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for discussions on trade, investment and global geopolitical developments.
The Indian prime minister will also visit the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome.
India’s foreign ministry noted that Modi and Meloni have met seven times since 2023, reflecting rapidly expanding ties between the two countries.
Europe Tour Comes Amid India-EU Trade Momentum
Prime Minister Modi’s Europe tour comes at a critical moment as India and the European Union move closer toward finalizing a long-pending free trade agreement later this year.
Indian officials said the visit’s central focus will remain on boosting trade, investments, startup collaboration, innovation partnerships and strategic connectivity with Europe.
The outreach is also expected to reinforce India’s growing role as a key economic and geopolitical partner for European nations amid shifting global trade and security dynamics.
