29 September 2026
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's May 2026 visit, India and the Netherlands elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership.
A Roadmap of the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership for 2026-2030 was adopted.
Diplomatic relations date from 1947; in FY 2024-2025 merchandise trade was USD 27.779 billion.
The Netherlands is India's 3rd largest export destination globally and the largest in Europe, and the fourth largest investor in India, with cumulative Dutch investment of about USD 55.6 billion since 2000.
Diplomatic relations since:
1947
Merchandise trade FY 2024-25:
USD 27.779 billion
Cumulative Dutch investment in India (2000 onwards):
approx. USD 55.6 billion
Netherlands as investor in India:
Fourth largest
Why it matters for exams: Bilateral relations with a major European trade and investment partner are a staple of international-affairs questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
3 September 2026
The Dutch central bank (DNB) said in early September 2026 that it had moved part of its gold reserves from New York and Ottawa to London. The Netherlands owns 612.4 tonnes of gold, worth 72.2 billion euros at the end of 2025. More than 27 tonnes were physically moved from the United States and Canada to Zeist, and part was sold in New York and bought in London. New York's share fell from 31.3 per cent to 18.5 per cent, and Ottawa's from 19.7 per cent to 18.5 per cent. DNB head Olaf Sleijpen said the move improved the tradability of the gold reserves.
Dutch gold reserves:
612.4 tonnes
Value at end of 2025:
72.2 billion euros
New York share after the move:
18.5 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Central-bank gold reserves and reserve management are recurring economy and current-affairs topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
Background
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
Its seat is at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.
It is the only one of the six principal UN organs not located in New York.
The Court has 15 judges who serve nine-year terms, elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council.
It was established in June 1945 by the UN Charter and began work in April 1946.
Seat:
Peace Palace, The Hague
Judges:
15
Term of office:
Nine years
Began work:
April 1946
Why it matters for exams: The ICJ's seat and composition are frequent UN-system questions, and it is the UN organ based in the Netherlands.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has its seat in The Hague, Netherlands.
It was established when the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force on 29 April 1997.
There are 193 OPCW Member States, countries that have signed the Convention.
The OPCW won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.
Seat:
The Hague, Netherlands
Convention in force:
29 April 1997
Member States:
193
Nobel Peace Prize:
2013
Why it matters for exams: Another international body seated at The Hague; its convention date and Nobel award are common facts questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Netherlands is India's 10th largest merchandise trading partner and the 2nd largest in the European Union after Germany, according to the Indian Embassy in The Hague. Total merchandise trade stood at USD 23.287 billion in F.Y. 2025-2026. It is India's third largest merchandise export destination in the world, after the USA and the UAE, with Indian exports of USD 17.501 billion. On investment, the Netherlands is the fourth largest source of FDI into India, after Mauritius, Singapore and the USA, with a cumulative FDI equity inflow of USD 56.676 billion from April 2000 to March 2026, or 7% of the total. There are over 300 Dutch companies in India and over 300 Indian companies in the Netherlands.
Rank as India's merchandise trading partner:
10th
Total merchandise trade:
USD 23.287 billion
Cumulative FDI equity inflow into India:
USD 56.676 billion
Why it matters for exams: Trade ranks, partner countries and FDI sources are recurring questions in economy and international relations papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
According to the Indian Embassy in The Hague, the Netherlands has the second largest population of people of Indian origin in Europe, next only to the UK, with about 240,000 members of the Indian Diaspora. This includes the Hindustani-Surinami community, whose forebears left India nearly 150 years ago and which is wholly integrated into Dutch society while keeping deep cultural links with India. The community has sent two Members of Parliament, Daulatram Ramlal and Tanja Jadnansing, to the Dutch Parliament. Statues of Gandhiji stand in Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Zoetermeer, and Gandhi Jayanthi is a major event. The Netherlands India Association (NIA) and the Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce and Trade (NICCT) are among the organisations linking the two countries.
Indian Diaspora in the Netherlands:
about 240,000
Europe rank by Indian-origin population:
2nd, after the UK
Gandhi statues in:
Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Zoetermeer
Why it matters for exams: Diaspora facts, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Gandhian legacy abroad feature in general awareness and international relations papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The United Nations lists the country as Netherlands (Kingdom of the), admitted on 10-12-1945. The Kingdom of the Netherlands has declared that it recognizes as compulsory the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Court's Statute. The declaration is dated 21 February 2017 and replaced the earlier declaration of 1 August 1956. It covers disputes arising from situations or facts that took place no earlier than one hundred years before the dispute is brought to the Court.
UN date of admission:
10-12-1945
ICJ compulsory-jurisdiction declaration:
21 February 2017
Time limit on facts covered:
one hundred years
Why it matters for exams: Membership of the UN and acceptance of ICJ compulsory jurisdiction (Article 36(2), the 'optional clause') are standard international-law topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC