Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten, visited the iconic Afsluitdijk, one of the world’s most renowned water management structures.
The visit highlighted the growing cooperation between India and the Netherlands in the areas of water management, climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure development.
The Afsluitdijk, a 32-kilometre-long dam and causeway, is considered a global model for flood control and land reclamation. It protects large parts of the Netherlands from flooding caused by the North Sea while also enabling freshwater storage.
During the visit, both leaders discussed similarities between the Dutch structure and India’s ambitious Kalpasar Project in Gujarat. The Kalpasar project aims to create a massive freshwater reservoir across the Gulf of Khambhat while integrating tidal power generation, irrigation and transportation infrastructure.
The two countries also welcomed the signing of a Letter of Intent between India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management for technical cooperation on the Kalpasar project.
The leaders noted that the Netherlands’ expertise in hydraulic engineering combined with India’s large-scale implementation capabilities could create mutually beneficial opportunities in the water sector.
The visit reaffirmed the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership on Water and underscored the shared focus on innovation, sustainability and climate-resilient infrastructure.
