A Dutchman, Emile Ratelband who is just months shy of his 70th birthday has launched a legal bid to slash 20 years off his age as he looks to enhance his prospects at work and in love.

In an unprecedented case in the Netherlands, Ratelband told a tribunal that he wants to shift his birth date by two decades to March 11, 1969.

Ratelband, who is a coach who specializes in ‘self awareness’ training said he felt discriminated against because of his advanced years, adding that while he does not need dating apps, the custom of giving his age to a prospective lover puts him at a disadvantage.

“I feel much younger than my age, I am a young god. I can have all the girls I want but not after I tell them that I am 69.

“I feel young, I am in great shape and I want this to be legally recognized because I feel abused, aggrieved and discriminated against because of my age,” Ratelband said.

Likening his bid for a legal remedy to people who register a change of official gender, the single father told the tribunal that he had tried in vain to stop his basic pension, maintaining that his petition was legitimate.

“Today we can choose our work, gender, political and sexual orientation. We even have the right to change our name. So why do we not have the right to change our age?” he querried.

Ratelband said while he was initially greeted by ‘jeers’ from magistrates, he believes the argument of his lawyer, Jan-Hein Kuijpers, a famous criminal lawyer unsettled the judges, who have to decide on the case within four weeks.

“This case is unprecedented, there is no jurisprudence. The chances of success are minimal but we believe that the legislation must evolve with the times,” Kuijpers told reporters.