Amsterdam, April 5: President Ram Nath Kovind and Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra named a new breed of yellow tulip flowers ‘Maitri’ – symbolic of the special and enduring friendship between India and the Netherlands. The two leaders named the flower at Keukenhof, also known as the Garden of Europe — one of the world’s largest flower gardens, in Amsterdam on Monday.
The president, who arrived in the Netherlands on Monday on a three-day state visit, was received at Keukenhof by the Dutch Deputy PM and FM Hoekstra. President Kovind spoke about the multifaceted partnership between the two countries and of the vibrant people-to-people connect, in a short address. The President’s House said in tweets: “President Ram Nath Kovind and the First Lady Smt Savita Kovind visited Keukenhof in Amsterdam. The President named a new breed of yellow tulips ‘Maitri’~ symbolic of the special & enduring friendship between India and the Netherlands.”
“President Kovind was received at Keukenhof by the Dutch Foreign Minister & Deputy PM @WBHoekstra. President Kovind spoke about the multifaceted partnership between the two countries & vibrant people-to-people connect.” The Dutch Deputy PM Hoekstra in a tweet said: “India and the Netherlands celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations. Today President Kovind and I named a tulip ‘Maitri’ (=friendship).
At this time, it is important to discuss our shared values with an important partner like India and continue to strengthen our cooperation.” President Kovind is visiting Amsterdam at the invitation of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. This is the first presidential visit to the Netherlands after 34 years since the visit of President Venkataraman in 1988. President Kovind was received at the airport by by Rear Admiral Ludger Brummelaar, Adjutant General, Head of the Military House of the King and Dutch Minister of Agriculture Henk Staghouwe UNI
