Dutch Motivation Guru Emile Ratelband Missing as Family Offers Reward
Family members are searching for the 77-year-old television personality and author, whose whereabouts remain unknown after traveling to Laos.
Dutch motivation trainer and media personality Emile Ratelband, known for his television appearances and catchphrases, has sparked widespread concern as his family searches for him amid questions regarding his real estate and financial situation. Ratelband, who is 77 years old, was last known to be in Laos after leaving Thailand in late 2025, according to immigration authorities. His children have publicly expressed deep concern over his disappearance and the unclear whereabouts of his two younger children.
In an effort to gather information, his daughter Minou and son Rolls have offered a reward of 2,500 euros for any decisive tips regarding his location. Several of his children have not had personal contact with him for a significant period. While the family seeks direct contact to ensure his safety, the situation has been complicated by conflicting accounts and audio messages attributed to the guru.
Voice messages purportedly from Ratelband suggest that he has gone into hiding voluntarily and wishes to have no contact with his family, alleging that his children are primarily interested in his inheritance. His relatives have strongly denied these claims, with some expressing doubts about the authenticity of the voice recordings. Conversely, his former attorney stated that he spoke with Ratelband, who indicated he wanted to be left in peace.
Financial questions have also emerged alongside his disappearance. Ratelband reportedly owns several properties in Arnhem, but bills have allegedly gone unpaid, prompting tenants to initiate protective legal measures regarding the real estate. Furthermore, inquiries surround his past property ventures in Thailand, though verifiable evidence of million-euro debts or a direct link between financial trouble and his retreat remains unconfirmed.
Ratelband achieved global attention in 2018 when he petitioned an Arnhem court to officially change his age from 1949 to 1969, arguing that his chronological age did not reflect his identity or biological age. He famously argued during the legal battle that dating applications made it difficult to find matches at age 69 and that possessing a younger legal age would change his life. The court ultimately rejected the request, ruling that age serves as the basis for legal rights and obligations such as retirement and marriage, and cannot be altered unilaterally.
Despite the legal defeat, the case propelled Ratelband into international prominence, cementing his reputation as a positivity advocate and media trainer. Often referred to in the Netherlands as the "God of Positivity," he has spent decades running the Ratelband Research Institute, delivering seminars, and publishing books centered on NLP techniques, personal development, and maintaining an ageless mindset.
As authorities and family members continue to look into his disappearance, the contrast between his public persona as a purveyor of optimism and his current circumstances has drawn intense scrutiny. While gerontologists distinguish between immutable chronological age and biological metrics like cellular aging, the immediate focus for his loved ones remains on locating Ratelband and confirming the safety of his youngest children.