Basit Zargar/Srinagar

As dawn breaks over the still waters of Dal Lake, casting a golden hue across its misty surface, a small boat gently slices through the quiet.

At the helm sits a woman in her wide-brimmed hat, rowing with steady determination. Her name is Ellis Hubertina Spaaanderman, a 69-year-old Dutch national who has, for the past five years, taken it upon herself to clean the plastic waste choking Srinagar’s most iconic waterbody.

What began as a personal act of care has grown into a quiet mission of environmental stewardship one woman, one boat, and an unwavering resolve to give back to a place that stole her heart nearly 25 years ago. “I came here as a traveler,” Ellis says. “But I stayed because this place touched my soul.” 

Ellis Hubertina Spaaanderman in Dal Lake

A mission born of love In a region too often framed through the lens of politics and conflict, Ellis offers a different kind of story, one of gentle persistence, compassion, and a deep commitment to the environment.

For five years now, she has been collecting plastic bags, wrappers, bottles, and other debris from the lake, often alone, often without fanfare. Tourists may marvel at the postcard beauty of Dal Lake, the shikaras, the lotus blooms, and the reflections of the Zabarwan mountains but beneath the surface lies a harsher truth. 

Ellis Hubertina Spaaanderman picking garbage from the lake

“What people don’t see,” Ellis says, “are the layers of garbage just beneath the water plastic that doesn’t belong here.”

Why Dal Lake mattesr? Dal Lake is more than just a landmark. It is the lifeblood of Srinagar supporting tourism, livelihoods, local biodiversity, and cultural identity.

Yet despite its importance, the lake has suffered years of neglect. Unregulated construction, population pressure, untreated sewage, and plastic waste have all taken a toll.

Ellis Hubertina Spaaanderman picking plastic waste from Dal Lake

Although the government has made efforts through dredging operations and anti-encroachment drives, the results have been mixed. While policies remain entangled in bureaucracy, Ellis has chosen action direct, consistent, and deeply personal.

An outsider who became family perhaps what resonates most about Ellis’s journey is the contrast: a foreign woman taking ownership of a local crisis many have grown desensitized to.

“She’s an inspiration to all of us,” says Bilal Ahmad, a vendor near the lake.

“It’s painful to admit, but someone from across the world is doing more for our lake than many of us who live here.” Her efforts go beyond physical cleanup.

Ellis Hubertina Spaaanderman in Dal

By engaging with locals, posting on social media, and simply showing up every day, Ellis has become a symbol of what individual responsibility and love for nature can look like.

A quiet revolution In an era marked by environmental despair and apathy, Ellis Hubertina Spaaanderman’s story reminds us that one person can make a difference. Through five years of unflagging work, she is not just cleaning a lake — she is holding up a mirror to society, urging us all to care more, act sooner, and love deeper.

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Dal Lake may still be fighting for survival, but thanks to Ellis, it has not been forgotten.

(Pics and text by Basit Zargar)