New Delhi [India]: Netherlands Ambassador to India, Marisa Gerards, has described tulips as a symbol of friendship between India and the Netherlands, calling it a “very special” bond. She highlighted the initiative of planting tulips at the Netherlands House in Delhi this year.
Speaking to media, Gerards recalled that the Netherlands and New Delhi collaborated to plant tulips across the city during the G20 Summit in 2023 and continued the initiative last year. The G20 Summit was held under India’s presidency in September 2023.
Discussing the Tulip Festival in Delhi, Gerards said, “Well, I arrived in India 1.5 years ago, and around the G20, the Netherlands and the city of Delhi teamed up to plant tulips to celebrate. We did it again last year. Seeing how well the tulips were growing, I thought we should also include the residence of the Dutch ambassador. So, this year, we planted tulips here. It was a bit nerve-wracking to see if it would work, but it has. We also planted some tulips outside for the public to see and to join in the celebration of spring and clean air.”
She emphasized the symbolic importance of tulips in India-Netherlands relations, stating, “We baptized this special friendship tulip—the yellow ones—together with your Former President when he visited the Netherlands in 2022. That tulip represents the friendship between our two countries, which makes it very special. Many tulips have specific names or significant meanings, which makes them even more beautiful.”
India-Netherlands Relations: A Strong Bond
Highlighting the long-standing diplomatic ties between India and the Netherlands, Gerards noted that the Netherlands was among the first nations to recognize India’s independence.
“It’s a very strong relationship. We were one of the first countries to recognize India’s independence. Our embassy in Delhi was opened in 1948, and the residence of the Dutch ambassador has been here since 1952. There’s a lot happening in various sectors, including water management, health, energy, climate, agriculture, and innovation,” she said.
She also revealed that India and the Netherlands are set to sign a strategic partnership agreement soon. “Our two prime ministers have discussed this, and we aim to enhance cooperation in security and the semiconductor ecosystem,” she added.
Strong People-to-People Ties
Gerards acknowledged the strong people-to-people ties between India and the Netherlands, particularly due to the Indian diaspora in the country.
“The Netherlands may be small in terms of population, but we are big in sectors like innovation. There is a strong connection between our people. Many Indians come to the Netherlands to study or work, and we also have a diaspora that came through Suriname. We know each other well and genuinely like each other,” she remarked.
The Netherlands continues to strengthen its cultural and economic ties with India, making tulips not just a symbol of beauty but a representation of the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations.