This 69-Year-Old Dutch Woman Has Spent 5 Years Cleaning Kashmir's Dal Lake

News18

3 days ago

Ellis visited Kashmir for the first time some 25 years ago and was immediately captivated by its natural beauty.
Every year, thousands of people flock to Kashmir to experience heaven on earth. From the calm waters of Dal Lake to the lush Mughal Garden and scenic Gulmarg, these are fixed on everyone's itinerary. While many come and go, one woman, who visited the paradise more than two decades ago, fell in love with the place so much so that she decided to lead a quiet revolution to protect its beauty and environment.
Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman, a 69-year-old Dutch national, has been winning hearts on the internet for her incredible and selfless efforts to protect Dal Lake in Srinagar. Affectionately known as the 'Mother of Dal," Ellis has been working tirelessly to clean up the iconic tourist spot for the past five years.
She visited Kashmir for the first time some 25 years ago and was immediately captivated by its natural beauty. Over time, her love for the region only grew stronger. Five years ago, she decided to move to Kashmir permanently, leaving her home in the Netherlands behind. Since then, she has dedicated her time to just one mission: To keep Dal Lake clean and preserve its beauty.
Ellis went viral after a video showing her picking up plastic bags and bottles from the lake surfaced online. Praising her hard work and efforts, Kashmir Rights Forum shared a post and wrote, 'Kudos to Dutch national Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman for her selfless efforts in cleaning Srinagar's Dal Lake for the past 5 years. This dedication serves as an inspiration to preserve Kashmir's natural beauty. Let's join hands to keep our paradise clean & pristine."
Kudos to Dutch national Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman for her selfless efforts in cleaning Srinagar's Dal Lake for past 5 years. This dedication serves as an inspiration to preserve Kashmir's natural beauty. Let's join hands to keep our paradise clean & pristine. @ddprsrinagar pic.twitter.com/YINLbm3X1z — Kashmir Rights Forum🍁 (@kashmir_right) June 29, 2025
Not just an environmentalist, Ellis is also a passionate cyclist who often enjoys a ride through the city, spreading a message of eco-friendly living and healthy habits. Through her Instagram account, she also shares pictures of the people and stunning places of Kashmir. She even uses the platform for promoting her mission of protecting Mother Nature.
Sharing a snapshot of a video of herself originally posted by The Kashmir Today, Ellis wrote in the caption, 'Cleaning up Kashmir, please, help me. Never underestimate the power of the smallest actions. Joining hands, we can clean up the whole of Kashmir within 2 years. Don't point fingers, don't blame either other people (tourists or locals) or governments (stop thinking in separation instead think in collaboration). Instead, do your own part by not throwing your waste everywhere, even collecting some waste of others as I do."
Locals and environmentalists have appreciated her efforts towards preserving the natural beauty of Kashmir.