Missing Dutch TV personality Emile Ratelband left Thailand in 2025, Thai police report

Missing Dutch television personality and politician Emile Ratelband, 77, whose family has not known his whereabouts for quite some time, appears to have left Thailand at the end of 2025. According to Thai immigration police, he traveled to neighboring Laos, while his partner, 41-year-old Natalia from Brazil, headed in a different direction on the same day, Bangkok Post reports.

After Emile’s children appealed for public attention over social media regarding his dissappearance, Thai immigration police decided to investigate his travel records, which show that he crossed the border into Laos. He traveled via the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge at the end of last year.

Natalia left by plane for a country in the Middle East the same day as Emilie crossed the border. According to the Thai immigration authorities, neither of them has a recorded return to Thailand.

Emile’s family is becoming increasingly worried. The man has been gone for approximately one year and nine months. His son, Rolls, and daughter, Minou, made an appeal on LinkedIn for any information about their father. The family has offered a 2,500-euro award for the crucial tip that would help them find Emile.

The children had previously traveled to Thailand to search for their father themselves. The villa where he was believed to be staying was found abandoned. Asking around also did not prove helpful.