Audio By Carbonatix
A 69-year-old Dutch entrepreneur has launched a legal battle to change his age in the hope of boosting his chances of finding a partner.
Emile Ratelband, who was born March 11, 1949, told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf he wants to legally move his birthday to March 11, 1969 because he identifies as a much younger man.
Ratelband is taking action against his local authority after he was prevented from changing his age on official documents. “It is really a question of free will,” he told a court in Arnhem Thursday, De Telegraaf reports. The court is expected to rule on the case in the next four weeks.
“We live in a time when you can change your name and change your gender. Why can’t I decide my own age?” he said.
Ratelband argued he has been the victim of age discrimination and that the change would afford him more freedom in other areas of his life. Doctors had told him he had the body of a 45-year-old, he said.
“When I’m on Tinder and it says I’m 69, I don’t get an answer. When I’m 49, with the face I have, I will be in a luxurious position. When I’m 69, I am limited. If I’m 49, then I can buy a new house, drive a different car. I can take up more work,” he said.
According to his personal website, Ratelband is the author of 12 books, and is an experienced public speaker and “positivity guru”. The website goes on to say that his “age focus is to turn at least 94 years old and to then leave this world”. It is unclear whether he now plans on living to 114.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
2026 World Cup: Cape Verde hold Spain to goalless draw in opener
4 minutes -
Only 47% of ‘Big Push’ projects awarded through sole-sourcing — Gov’t
8 minutes -
2026 World Cup: Tunisia sack Sabri Lamouchi after opening match defeat to Sweden
12 minutes -
CSOs petition NTC over alleged teacher–student altercation at Nyinahin SHS
13 minutes -
Photos: President and political appointees present GHs6.1m to MahamaCares Fund
14 minutes -
Children engaged in hazardous illegal mining and farming practices drive dropouts in schools in Tano North
14 minutes -
Court strikes out application to dismiss East Legon property case
37 minutes -
Dozens walk out as Google boss Pichai addresses Stanford graduates
40 minutes -
NPP Constituency Chairman petitions regional executives over alleged election irregularities in Afigya Sekyere East
55 minutes -
Flood prevention requires collective action, not seasonal reactions
1 hour -
China detains two leaders of influential underground church
1 hour -
African brands gain modestly in consumer admiration, but global giants still dominate
1 hour -
Ghana has only two functional MRI machines in public hospitals – MahamaCares Assessment
2 hours -
IMF chief says no global slowdown in sight yet, but risks high
2 hours -
Advancing Ghana’s position in Global Business Services at the Executive Roundtable in London
2 hours