Emile Ratelband Missing: Children Offer €2,500 Reward in Search

The children of Emile Ratelband are desperate for answers. In an emotional public appeal shared on social media, his oldest daughter Minou and son Emilio say they have had no meaningful contact with their father for nearly two years — and they are now offering a €2,500 reward for the tip that leads them to him.

"I miss my father! It has been 1 year and 9 months since I last saw him," Minou wrote in the appeal, which was posted on LinkedIn on 17 October and has since been picked up by major Dutch media including Shownieuws and Vandaag Inside.

The Public Appeal

The appeal centers on a poster bearing the large-lettered question: "Wie weet waar onze vader, Emile Ratelband, is?" — "Who knows where our father, Emile Ratelband, is?" The poster carries photos of Ratelband alongside a woman identified as Nathalia da Silva.

"We, the children of Emile Ratelband, are very worried about our father," the poster reads. "We don't know where he is or how he really is. Despite our many attempts to get in touch and get clarity, we come up empty-handed."

The children stress that they are sharing the appeal "out of love and concern." What they want most, they say, is simply to know that he is doing well — "and that we can eventually hold our father and grandfather in our arms again."

€2,500 for the Golden Tip

To motivate people to come forward, Minou and Emilio are offering €2,500 to whoever provides the tip that leads to their father. They are asking for reliable information about the current whereabouts of Ratelband and/or Da Silva. Minou writes that she is "at the end of her rope" — ten einde raad.

Emilio also shared the appeal on X, adding a concern of his own. "Many people only read that Emile Ratelband is missing, but we also have no idea where the children are," he wrote, saying he is deeply worried not just about his father but also about his younger brother and sister. "If you know something or know someone who might know more, please get in touch."

Who Is Emile Ratelband?

Emile Ratelband, 77, is a well-known Dutch entrepreneur and television personality, famous as a positivity guru who built a career on motivational speaking and self-help. He is reported to have emigrated to Thailand in 2022, and he has nine children with different women.

According to his children, a portion of them already raised the alarm about the lack of contact with their father multiple times over the past two years. Earlier this year, in April and May, the talk show Roddelpraat was among the first media outlets to draw attention to the family's concerns. Host Dennis Schouten said at the time that several family members had told him they had had no normal contact with Emile for about a year — and that while WhatsApp messages did arrive, the children doubted they were actually written by their father, because the wording and the broken Dutch didn't match how he normally communicated.

RealityFBI also reported in May that family members and an ex-partner were worried. Previous reports said Ratelband had left for Thailand, possibly to set up business activities there.

A Family, Not a Police Case

It is worth noting that this is a family appeal, not a formal missing-persons investigation — the children are asking the public for help because their own attempts to reach their father have failed. They have stopped short of accusing anyone of wrongdoing, framing the entire appeal as one of worry for his wellbeing.

The story has resonated because it touches a nerve familiar to many Dutch viewers: the aging TV personalities who once filled the nation's living rooms, now at the center of painful family drama playing out in public. For more on Dutch TV figures in the spotlight, you can read about the unpublished columns of Maarten Spanjer and catch up on this week's Dutch celebrity couples update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Emile Ratelband missing?

His children say they have had no meaningful contact with him for nearly two years. On 17 October 2026, his daughter Minou and son Emilio issued a public appeal offering €2,500 for information leading to their father. This is a family appeal, not a formal police missing-persons case. The family believes he may be in Thailand, where he emigrated in 2022.

What is the €2,500 reward for?

Minou and Emilio Ratelband are offering €2,500 for "the golden tip" that leads them to their father Emile Ratelband. They are asking for reliable information about his current whereabouts, and also about Nathalia da Silva, the woman pictured with him on their appeal poster.

How old is Emile Ratelband and who are his children?

Emile Ratelband is 77 and has nine children with different women. The appeal was issued by his oldest daughter Minou — who says it has been 1 year and 9 months since she last saw him — and his son Emilio. Emilio has also expressed concern about his younger brother and sister, whose whereabouts the family likewise doesn't know.

Have the children raised concerns before?

Yes. According to media reports, parts of the family already sounded the alarm about the lack of contact with their father multiple times over the past two years. In April and May 2026, the program Roddelpraat reported that family members said they had had no normal contact with Emile for about a year, and doubted whether WhatsApp messages arriving in his name were genuinely his.

About the Author

Sidra Salman is the founder of Dutch Stars Daily, where she writes practical, research-backed guides on Dutch celebrities and entertainment news. Every guide is tested and written in plain English for a US audience.