A man from Hellevoetsluis has managed to get an official ID card with a photo of himself made up to look like the Joker, from the Batman films. The man managed to get round strict new rules governing photos for ID cards and passports by saying the make-up and hat were part of his religious beliefs. The council gave the go ahead.

Last year, the home affairs ministry tightened up the rules for passport photos in preparation for the launch of digital passports later this year. Laughing is banned and the mouth must be closed. Head scarves are acceptable on religious grounds but the entire face must be clearly visible.
The man, who has not been named in media reports, apparently works for a security company. He told Radio 1 that he wanted to show the rules were not up to scratch.