In Brussels a tour operator is offering “sick notes” for families booking vacations that fall in term-time, allowing them to take their children on holiday before the end of the school term, in a humorous campaign that has drawn sharp words from the Belgian education authorities.

“We are handing out free sick notes for the last week of June as we believe families should be able to go on holiday for the lowest possible price,” tour operator Neckermann said in a campaign launched at the weekend.

Vacations at popular destinations are much cheaper ahead of the official start of Belgian summer school holidays on 1st July.

A spokesman for the travel group said yesterday it was clear the campaign was not meant seriously & the company would not provide genuine sick notes. (Just the usual, poorly faked versions, beloved & provided by students & cheapskate parents everywhere?)

Never slow to be outraged the authorities managed to generate an instant angry response, with the Flemish education ministry looking at its legal options to force an end the campaign.

“This is in conflict with the agreements (I suspect these “agreements” only exist in the heads of bureaucrats) we have made with the travel sector. They can’t just entice families to keep their children away from school,” a ministry spokeswoman said.

A Neckermann spokesman said the group had run similar campaigns in the past.

“We trust that parents know what is wrong & what is right for their children,” he said.

So the company is clearly populated by the same naive fools as the education ministry. You have to love the Belgians.