Chola Copper Plates, a set of 21 large plates and 3 small plates, are royal charters issued by Chola Kings during the 11th century CE. These charters formalise gifting of Anaimangalam village to a Buddha vihara called Chulamanivarma-vihara in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.
The Netherlands on Saturday restituted the 11th-century Chola copper plates to India in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the copper plates were formally handed over by the Leiden University Library to the Government of India.
In a post on X, PM Modi described the return of the artefacts as “a joyous moment for every Indian”.
“Chola Copper Plates dating back to the 11th Century will be repatriated to India from the Netherlands,” PM Modi said.
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“The Chola Copper Plates are a set of 21 large plates and 3 small plates and largely contain texts in Tamil, one of the most beautiful languages of the world. They relate to the great Rajendra Chola I formalising an oral commitment made by his father, King Rajaraja I. They also showcase the greatness of the Cholas. We in India are immensely proud of the Cholas, their culture and their maritime prowess.,” he write in a post on X.
“We in India are immensely proud of the Cholas, their culture and their maritime prowess,” he said.
A joyous moment for every Indian!
Chola Copper Plates dating back to the 11th Century will be repatriated to India from the Netherlands. Took part in the ceremony for the same in the presence of Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
The Chola Copper Plates are a set of 21 large plates… pic.twitter.com/Zwu0QFc2ZJ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 16, 2026
The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said that the return of the artefacts carried “deep emotional appeal” for Indians and represented far more than historical objects.
“The restitution of these Chola copper plates assumes significance since they are not merely artefacts of the past, but an invaluable story of India’s heritage and civilization,” the ministry said.
PM Modi thanked the Dutch government and Leiden University, where the plates had been preserved since the mid-19th century, for facilitating their return.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADPM Modi meets Dutch Royals
PM Modi on Saturday met King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace and discussed close cooperation in digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy.
Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday – after a brief stopover in the UAE – on the second leg of his five-nation tour that also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy.
“Met His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima at the Royal Palace. It was wonderful exchanging perspectives on boosting India-Netherlands friendship across key sectors like technology, innovation, sustainable growth, commerce and water resources,” PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.
Modi said that India and the Netherlands are “connected by shared interests and a shared belief in building a future-ready planet.” “They discussed the growing partnership between India and the Netherlands,” the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
“Both sides noted the close cooperation in the areas of sustainability, climate action, digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy,” he added.
The two sides also expressed commitment towards further strengthening India–Netherlands relations.
Earlier in the day, Modi addressed a gathering of the Indian diaspora in The Hague where he called India a “land of opportunities” undergoing an “unprecedented transformation”.
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The PM’s visit to the European nation from May 15 to 17 is his second trip to the country after his 2017 visit and comes at what officials described as an “important juncture” in India-Netherlands ties.
India and the Netherlands have significantly expanded cooperation in recent years beyond traditional sectors such as trade, investment and the priority areas of water, agriculture and health.
The partnership has grown in strategic sectors, including technology, innovation, defence, security, semiconductors, renewable energy, education and the maritime domain, the MEA said.
The Netherlands is one of India’s largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade valued at USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India’s fourth-largest investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment amounting to USD 55.6 billion, officials said.
People-to-people ties remain a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.
Later on Saturday, Modi is scheduled to meet his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.
With inputs from agencies
First Published:
May 16, 2026, 22:23 IST
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