11 hours agoBy Linda Pressly, BBC NewsBBCJan (70) and Els (71) were photographed two days before their deaths. The couple, who had been married for almost five decades, chose to end their lives together through duo-euthanasia in the Netherlands. This practice is legal but rare, with more Dutch couples opting for this method each year.
Jan and Els, who loved living on the move, spent most of their marriage in a motorhome or on boats. Jan, a former hockey player, and sports coach, met Els, a primary school teacher, in kindergarten. They shared a passion for water, boats, and sailing, living on a houseboat and later owning a cargo boat for their transport business.
As Jan’s back pain worsened from years of heavy work, they moved onto land before returning to life on a boat. Eventually, they settled in a campervan. Jan had surgery for his back pain in 2003, but it did not improve, leading them to consider euthanasia.
Els was diagnosed with dementia in 2018, prompting discussions about ending their lives together. In the Netherlands, euthanasia is legal if suffering is deemed unbearable with no prospect of improvement. However, the process can be complicated, especially for patients with dementia.
After their GP declined to assist with euthanasia, Jan and Els turned to a mobile euthanasia clinic for help. The couple had to ensure that one partner was not influencing the other in their decision to die together. Jan and Els’ son struggled with the decision but ultimately supported his parents’ choice.
The day before their appointment with the euthanasia doctors, Jan, Els, their son, and grandchildren spent time together. Despite the emotional weight of their decision, Jan and Els felt that ending their lives was the right choice for them.