Meet Emile Ratelbrand: The Dutch Man Who Wants to Rewrite His Birth Date
Picture this: at 69 years old, Mr Emile Ratelbrand’s eyes still sparkle with a youthful zest and his skin is still as smooth as a freshly brewed espresso. But his legal age? Over the horizon. The entrepreneur, self‑help guru, and part‑time “youth advocate” has taken to the courtroom to ask the government if he can legally cut down his birth year by twenty.
Why 20 Years? Because 49 Feels Finer
- He believes a 49‑year‑old status would open doors he’s been finding shut—like newer work gigs and, crucially, roping in a few more matches on Tinder.
- He’s framed it as a “living differently” plea:
When I’m 69, I feel boxed in; when I’m 49, I can buy a house, drive a new car, and dive into more work.
- He’s also bragged his body passed the “45‑year‑old” check and has had doctors dub him a “young god.”
Talk of the Town: “Why Not Change Your Age?”
During a March‑20 interview, Dutch paper De Telegraaf captured his swooning line: “You can change your name. You can change your gender. Why not your age?” The guy wants to preserve his prime, no doubt.
The Courtroom Verdict (Almost)
- The Arnhem judge admits that changing gender got ahead of changing age, but he’s wary of what a legal birth‑date rewrite would mean: essentially erasing two decades of a life, his coaches ask, “Who cared about those years? Who was the little boy?”
- The trial’s a long haul. The judge says the decision will be made in about a month.
- Meanwhile, the British Daily Express describes the judge as a “sympathetic figure” who understood the “old” times.
Also in the Spotlight
Beyond the court, Emile has a flair for the fine arts. He’s the voice behind Vladimir Trunkov in Dutch‑dubbed Cars 2. It’s a reality that he’s more than just a legal daredevil—he’s a media personality who isn’t afraid to mix humor with philosophy.
Bottom Line
Whether the Dutch legal system will grant this “age‑reversal” will be juicy to watch. Meanwhile, it’s a neat reminder that legal age isn’t beyond debate (yet) – and that, in the end, it’s all about the fields we can actually farm. The actual chassis remains the same, but maybe the dial does too.
