Kochi: King of The Netherlands Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will reach Kochi on October 17 on a two-day visit.
The Dutch Royals, who are in the country on a five-day visit from Sunday, would arrive at the Cochin international airport from Mumbai by a special flight at 1pm on October 17.
Upon their arrival, they will visit Mattancherry palace and Dutch company Ned Spice.
They will meet Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and prominent personalities in the evening, official sources said. A cultural programme and presentation of souvenirs are also organised for the royal couple.
The Chief Minister will host a dinner for the royal couple.
On October 18, the Royal couple will enjoy a boat ride at Alappuzha in the morning and address the media before their return in the afternoon. They will return to Amsterdam at 1pm.
Pinarayi had earlier said a technical and financial delegation from the Netherlands would also accompany the Dutch King during their visit.
Pinarayi had visited the Netherlands in May this year on an invitation of the Dutch government to explore possibilities of cooperation in various sectors, including water management, flood prevention and agriculture.
King Willem-Alexander's trip is his first state visit to India, following his ascension to the throne in 2013. The royal couple's trip is on the invitation of President Ram Nath Kovind.
India and the Netherlands have a bilateral trade turnover of $12.87 billion in 2018-19. The Netherlands is the fifth largest investor in India with a cumulative investment of $23 billion for the period 2000 to 2017.
The European country is also home to a 235,000 strong Indian diaspora, the largest in mainland Europe.
