A 69-year-old Dutchman has initiated court proceedings to legally reduce his age by more than 20 years. Emile Ratelband argues that if transgender people are allowed to change sex, he should be allowed to change his date of birth because doctors said he has the body of a 45-year-old. His local authority refused to amend his age on official documents so Mr Ratelband’s case has now gone to a court to stake his claim. ‘I have done a check-up and what does it show? My biological age is 45 years,’ he claimed.

The Dutchman argues that he is discriminated against because of his age on a daily basis and that companies are reluctant to hire someone the age of a pensioner as a consultant.

The judge said that he had some sympathy with Mr Ratelband as people could now change their gender which would once have been unthinkable. But the court said there would be practical problems in allowing people to change their birth date and it would mean legally deleting part of their lives.

The court is due to deliver a written ruling within three weeks.