<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>On <strong>17 May 2026</strong>, <strong>Prime Minister Narendra Modi</strong> travelled to the Netherlands with his Dutch counterpart <strong>Rob Jetten</strong> to inspect the iconic <span class="key-term" data-definition="Afsluitdijk Dam — a 32 km long dike in the Netherlands that protects the country from the North Sea and serves as a freshwater storage and flood control structure (GS3: Environment)">Afsluitdijk Dam</span>. The visit formed part of a two‑day European tour aimed at deepening bilateral ties in <span class="key-term" data-definition="water management — the planning, development, distribution and sustainable use of water resources, crucial for agriculture, flood control and urban supply (GS3: Environment/Economy)">water management</span> and climate‑resilient infrastructure.</p>
<h2>Key Developments</h2>
<ul>
<li>Modi highlighted the Netherlands as a global leader in <span class="key-term" data-definition="water management — the planning, development, distribution and sustainable use of water resources, crucial for agriculture, flood control and urban supply (GS3: Environment/Economy)">water management</span> and urged adoption of its best practices.</li>
<li>He pledged to introduce modern technology in India for <strong>irrigation, flood protection and expansion of the inland waterway network</strong>.</li>
<li>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) — the Indian government ministry responsible for foreign relations, diplomatic engagements and international cooperation (GS2: Polity)">Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)</span> linked the visit to the upcoming <span class="key-term" data-definition="Kalpasar Project — a proposed large‑scale water‑storage and dam project in Gujarat aimed at creating a freshwater reservoir and improving inland navigation (GS3: Water resources)">Kalpasar Project</span> in Gujarat.</li>
<li>MEA’s statement underscored opportunities for deeper <span class="key-term" data-definition="Indo‑Dutch collaboration — cooperative initiatives between India and the Netherlands in sectors like water technology, climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure (GS2: International Relations)">Indo‑Dutch collaboration</span> in climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure.</li>
<li>The Netherlands‑India engagement is part of a broader four‑nation European tour that also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Important Facts</h2>
<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Afsluitdijk Dam — a 32 km long dike in the Netherlands that protects the country from the North Sea and serves as a freshwater storage and flood control structure (GS3: Environment)">Afsluitdijk Dam</span> is a 32‑kilometre long dike that transformed the Zuiderzee into a freshwater lake, providing flood protection, water storage and a model for large‑scale hydraulic engineering. Dutch expertise in such projects is being examined for relevance to India’s <span class="key
Loading page, please wait…