Danielle from Breda has had her face covered in tattoos. She is very satisfied with the result, she told Omroep Brabant on Wednesday. But can you just walk into a tattoo parlor with such a request? We asked three Brabant tattoo artists.
“There are experienced customers for whom I do it. They know what they want and what influence such a tattoo has on their daily life and work. I want to protect young people from these kinds of things,” says Gideon van de Sande of Duke Tattoo in Den Bosch. He has been working as a tattoo artist for fourteen years.
Danielle’s story is familiar to him. “Yes, I have seen it, that is extreme. I do not put tattoos in visible places under the age of sixteen, the law does not allow that and I always explain that.”
“You literally have a stamp.”
“You literally have a stamp. I recently had a young boy who wanted to put ‘trust no one’ on his neck. That boy has yet to start his career. Then you come into a job interview with the message in your neck that you don’t trust anyone, that doesn’t seem like a good introduction to me,” says Van de Sande.
“I also don’t do Ajax, PSV or NAC logos or logos of motorcycle clubs.”
Andy Davies of Vintage Studio from Breda does not put tattoos on the face. “That is a limit for me. I’m full up to my neck. That’s where it ends for me. I won’t put a tattoo on the face of others either. Although I understand that some people like it.”
He considers himself more of an artist than a tattoo artist. “My background differs from most tattoo artists. I was first a graphic designer and have been tattooing in a way that stems from that for fourteen years now. For example, I do not put logos of Ajax, PSV or NAC. I also don’t start with logos for motorcycle clubs, it’s about the art form for me.”
“We don’t do hateful tattoos anyway.”
Indy van Lieshout (25), shop manager of True Blue Tattoo from Eindhoven, says that the tattoo world has its own unwritten rules. “We do not tattoo the face of anyone under the age of 18. Even above that age, we first talk to the customer. Even if we think it is unusual or risky, we explain to the customer that it may not be such a good idea.”
According to her, the request for a facial tattoo comes no more than four times a year. But there are more extremes that they don’t do at Blue Tattoo. “We don’t do hateful tattoos anyway. So no swastikas or anything.”
There are strict hygiene guidelines for tattoo shops. There are also rules regarding the type of tattoos and age limits for customers. These are enforced by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Some of the most important rules:
- It is prohibited to have a tattoo or piercing on children under the age of twelve. Only a piercing in the earlobe, the earring, is allowed.
- Young people aged twelve to sixteen may only have a tattoo with parental permission. They must also be present when the tattoo or piercing is being done.
- Young people aged twelve to sixteen are not allowed to have tattoos on the head, neck, wrists or hands. A genital piercing is also not allowed. Nipple piercings are also prohibited for girls of that age.
- Young people aged sixteen and older can decide for themselves whether they want to have a tattoo or piercing.
The Safe Tattooing site states: a list of licensed tattoo shops. If it is not listed, the company does not have a valid permit
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