Emilio Ratelband issued an emotional public appeal on NH Radio, begging his father, Emile Ratelband, to contact the family after months of silence from his residence in Thailand. The family has offered a reward for information leading to his whereabouts.
The Search for Emile Ratelband
- Emilio Ratelband last saw his father on January 3, 2025, when they landed together at Schiphol airport after a vacation.
- Family members recently visited the villa where Emile lived with his partner Natalia, only to find the property completely empty.
- Emilio doubts recent text messages and voice notes claiming his father wants privacy, suspecting Natalia is sending them instead.
An Empty Villa and Growing Family Fears
The last confirmed sighting of Emile Ratelband occurred on January 3, 2025, when he returned to the Netherlands through Schiphol alongside Emilio and his sister after a holiday. After briefly staying in the country and visiting a friend, Emile flew back to Thailand. Months later, family members went to check the residence where Emile lived with Natalia and their young children, Betheke and Maximus. They discovered a vacant property, and inquiries in the surrounding neighborhood yielded no information.
Emilio has expressed deep skepticism regarding incoming text messages from his father’s phone, pointing to flawed Dutch syntax that contrasts sharply with Emile’s typical communication style. An audio message demanding privacy and distance from the public eye was similarly dismissed by Emilio. “I don’t think he does all this on his own,” Emilio stated on NH Radio, adding that his father would normally communicate directly if he wanted to cut off contact.
Unresolved Concerns for Young Children
Beyond the silence from Emile himself, the family remains anxious about the well-being of six-year-old Betheke and four-year-old Maximus. Because the children are too young to operate mobile phones independently, relatives have had no alternative means to check on them. Emilio noted that his relationship with his father had previously been strong, characterized by shared activities and open communication, making the sudden cutoff unexpected.
The family’s anxiety is compounded by past events, including Emilio’s own disappearance in 2023 at age 15, during which Emile offered a 5,000 euro reward for information before his son was safely located. The current appeal relies on social media and public tips to uncover Emile’s location. “Pap, laat gewoon alsjeblieft iets weten. Het maakt niet uit. We houden gewoon echt heel erg van je,” Emilio said during the broadcast.
| Event | Date / Period | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Last Confirmed Sighting | January 3, 2025 | Emile Ratelband arrived at Schiphol with his children after a holiday before returning to Thailand. |
| Prior Disappearance | 2023 | Emilio Ratelband was missing for two weeks at age 15 before being found safe. |
Anyone with information regarding Emile Ratelband’s current location is urged to come forward as the family continues their search.
