Age cut for ‘young god’ of 70 denied

The Hague – A Dutch court on Monday slapped down an attempt by a self-described “young god” just shy of his 70th birthday to slash his age by 20 years to enhance his prospects in life and love.

In an unprecedented case, the Arnhem District Court told “positivity guru” Emile Ratelband it would not agree to his request to shift his birthdate two decades later, to March 11, 1969.

“Mr Ratelband is at liberty to feel 20 years younger,” the judges said. “But amending his date of birth would cause 20 years of records to vanish from the register of births, deaths, marriages and registered partnerships,” it said. “This would have a variety of undesirable legal and societal implications.”

Ratelband previously said he felt discriminated against because of his advanced years, adding that the custom of giving his age to a prospective lover was cramping his style. “I am a young god, I can have all the girls that I want, but not after I tell them that I am 69,” he recently said. “I feel young, I am in great shape and I want this to be legally recognised.” –