The Frisian villages of Dongeradeel and Dantumadiel have come up with a novel way of cutting spending on welfare payments – encouraging jobless women to find a rich man, the Leeuwarder Courant reports on Tuesday.

The local social service departments are paying for the women to have a make-over in the hope they can hook up with a rich husband to support them, the paper says. If 70 women find a new husband, the council can save €400,000 on welfare payments.
The councils are putting €1,400 into each woman to have her hair done and get help with her image. They will also get their wardrobe updated and tips on social skills and presentation.
Once the transformation process has been completed, the women will be registered at a local marriage bureau Mens en Relatie in Oentsjerk, the paper says.
So far fewer than 10 women have signed up for the scheme, which is described as ‘unethical’ by locals. Taking part is completely voluntary, officials told the paper.