A 69-year-old man in the Netherlands wants to legally reduce his age by 20 years, just to improve his chances in the world of dating. The man has approached a local Amsterdam court to reduce his age.
“You can change your name. You can change your gender. Why not your age?” Emile Ratelband told Dutch paper De Telegraaf. He wants to change his birthday from 11 March 1949 to 11 March 1969.
“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,” Ratelband told BBC News. The man also said he could have a new shot at life, that would allow him to buy a new house or get a new job.
Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported the court was skeptical of the suit, saying there was no legal mechanism allowing a person to change their birth date. According to the report, a local court in the city of Arnhem is expected to rule on the case within four weeks.
Local media said that Ratelband, who is a media personality and motivational speaker, is a trainer in neuro-linguistic programming and described himself as a “young god”. He also argued that according to his doctors, he has the body of a 45-year-old.
The pensioner has said he is ready to give up his pension if the court agrees to let him change his age.
However, while he’s not had any luck on Tinder, it’s not clear if he’s attempted using dating apps designed specifically for older users. From Elite Singles to Zoosk, there are some famous dating websites and apps that are available for those above 50.
