A Dutch Treat for Halloween

The Associated Press has this story today:

APPELSCHA, Netherlands (AP) -- Dutch witches were guaranteed a financial treat when the Leeuwarden District Court reaffirmed their legal right to write off the costs of schooling - including in witchcraft - against their tax bills. Those costs run to thousands of euros. ...

"It's just because the word 'witch' was mentioned that they have woken up," said Margarita Rongen, clad in flowing black velvet robes and wearing a Wiccan talisman. "This write-off has been around for a long time." The court found that a witch can declare schooling costs if it increases the likelihood of employment.

Lawmaker Pieter Omtzigt was astounded. "If we spend euro 1,000 on a witchcraft class, that's euro 1,000 we can't spent elsewhere," Omtzigt said. When he asked about it in parliament, Junior Finance Minister Joop Wijn wrote, "Under the circumstances, the cost of a course to become a witch qualifies as school fees."