The Hague: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic Afsluitdijk along with Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten during his official visit to the European nation, drawing attention to India’s ambitious Kalpasar project in Gujarat and strengthening bilateral cooperation in water management and climate resilience.
The visit formed part of PM Modi’s multi-nation Europe tour and highlighted growing India-Netherlands collaboration in sustainable infrastructure, flood management and hydraulic engineering.
Sharing details of the visit on social media, Modi praised the Netherlands for its pioneering work in water management.
“An area in which the Netherlands has done groundbreaking work is water management. The entire international community can learn a great deal from this. We are committed to bringing modern technology to India, which is intended to help with irrigation, flood protection, and the expansion of the inland waterway network,” Modi said.
What is the Afsluitdijk?
The Afsluitdijk is one of the world’s most celebrated engineering achievements in water management. Stretching nearly 32 kilometres, the dam and causeway protects large parts of the Netherlands from flooding caused by the North Sea while also helping store freshwater resources.
Constructed as part of the Dutch Zuiderzee Works project, the structure is considered a global model for flood control, coastal defence and land reclamation.
The Indian government said the visit underscored the shared commitment of both countries towards innovation, climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure development.
Gujarat’s Kalpasar project gets global attention
The visit also placed a spotlight on Gujarat’s long-pending Kalpasar project, which has often been compared to large-scale Dutch water engineering systems.
The Kalpasar project aims to create a massive freshwater reservoir across the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat. The proposed development also includes tidal power generation, irrigation facilities, transport connectivity and water storage infrastructure.
Officials said both leaders acknowledged the similarities between the Dutch expertise showcased through the Afsluitdijk and India’s plans for Kalpasar.
According to the government statement, the two countries believe Dutch technical expertise combined with India’s scale of implementation can create mutually beneficial partnerships in future infrastructure projects.
India and Netherlands sign Letter of Intent
During the visit, India and the Netherlands welcomed the signing of a Letter of Intent for technical cooperation related to the Kalpasar project.
The agreement was signed between India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
The cooperation is expected to focus on sharing technical knowledge, sustainable water management practices and engineering support for large-scale infrastructure planning.
Officials said the partnership further strengthens the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership on Water, which focuses on climate resilience, flood protection and water sustainability.
Focus on climate resilience and infrastructure
The visit comes at a time when countries across the world are increasingly investing in climate-resilient infrastructure to tackle rising sea levels, flooding and water scarcity.
India has been expanding efforts in inland waterways, irrigation systems and flood management under several national infrastructure initiatives.
Experts believe Dutch expertise in hydraulic engineering could play a significant role in supporting Indian projects in coastal states such as Gujarat.
The Afsluitdijk visit symbolically highlighted how international cooperation can support large-scale sustainable development projects in the future.
PM Modi concludes Netherlands visit
PM Modi arrived in The Hague on Friday as part of his four-nation Europe visit, which also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy.
Following the conclusion of the Netherlands leg of the tour, Modi was seen off at Schiphol Airport by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
The Prime Minister will next travel to Gothenburg at the invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
The India-Netherlands engagement on water management is expected to remain a key pillar of bilateral ties in the coming years, especially as both nations focus on sustainable growth and climate adaptation strategies.