From sound to skin

My route into tattooing wasn’t exactly conventional. Before becoming a tattoo artist, I spent many years working professionally in the television and film industry as a sound engineer.

At first glance, recording sound and tattooing might seem like completely different worlds.For me, there’s a surprisingly natural connection.

Both require concentration. Both require technical knowledge. Both depend on small details that most people may never consciously notice — but immediately feel when something isn’t right.

And both taught me something that has become central to the way I tattoo:precision matters. Eventually, I wanted to use that attention to detail in a more visual and personal way. Tattooing became that place.

What started as a new creative direction gradually became my craft. Today, the equipment is different. The obsession with details isn’t.

Why fine line tattooing?

I was drawn to fine line tattooing because of how much can be expressed with so little. A few carefully placed lines can capture the character of an animal.

A simple botanical shape can represent someone important. A tiny piece of handwriting can carry an entire history.

Fine line work doesn’t need to be loud. That’s precisely what I like about it.

There’s a certain honesty in creating something where every line remains visible and every detail has a purpose.

You can’t hide behind unnecessary elements. The design has to work.

My approach to tattooing

I don’t believe a tattoo appointment should begin with a needle. It should begin with listening. Before I think about technique, I want to understand what you’re trying to create. Sometimes that’s straightforward.

You know the subject, size and placement and simply need someone to turn the idea into a strong tattoo. Other times, it’s much less defined.You may have a story but no image.Several reference pictures that don’t quite fit together.

A piece of handwriting.

A memory.

Or simply a feeling you want to capture.

That’s where the creative process becomes interesting. My job isn’t just to reproduce what you show me. It’s to understand what you’re trying to say and find the cleanest way to translate that into a tattoo.

Custom means custom

Reference images are welcome. Copies aren’t the goal.

Pinterest, Instagram, photographs, drawings and screenshots can all be incredibly useful when explaining what you like.Bring them. But another person’s tattoo shouldn’t simply become yours.

I’ll use your references to understand the direction you’re drawn to and then create something specifically for you.

Sometimes that means changing the composition.

Sometimes simplifying it.

Sometimes combining several ideas.

And sometimes the conversation leads somewhere completely different from where we started. That’s part of the process. At the end, the tattoo should feel as though it belongs on your body — not as though it was borrowed from somebody else’s.

I will tell you when I think something won’t work

This is important to me. Saying yes to everything would probably be easier. But it wouldn’t necessarily make me a better tattoo artist.

If I believe your design contains too much detail for the size you want, I’ll tell you. If moving the tattoo slightly will improve the composition, I’ll explain why.

If extremely small lettering is unlikely to remain readable, we’ll look for another solution. And if I think an idea simply isn’t suited to the way I work, I’d rather be transparent about that too.

You’re always the person making the final decision about your body. My responsibility is to give you professional advice before you make it.

Designed for skin, not just for screens

We’re surrounded by tattoo photographs.

Instagram, Pinterest and other platforms are incredible sources of inspiration, but there’s an important difference between designing an image that looks good on a screen and creating a tattoo that works on skin.

Skin moves.

Bodies have curves.

Ink settles.

Tattoos age.

That’s why I consider placement, spacing, proportions and longevity as part of the design itself.

I don’t only ask:

“Does this look beautiful today?”

I also ask:

“Does this make sense as a tattoo?”

That distinction matters.

Precision over perfection

I care enormously about precision. But tattoos are made by hand, on human skin, for human beings. That matters too.

My goal isn’t to make your tattoo look as though it came out of a printer. It’s to create something carefully, intentionally and technically well — while preserving the character that makes tattooing a craft.

There is a balance between control and humanity. That’s one of the things I love most about the work.

A calm and personal experience

Not everyone walks into a tattoo appointment feeling completely relaxed. Especially if it’s your first tattoo. You may be excited and nervous at exactly the same time. That’s normal.

You don’t need to know the terminology. You don’t need to know exactly which needle should be used. And you don’t need to pretend you’re completely sure about the placement when you’re not.

We’ll take the time to look at it.

Move it if necessary.

Change the size.

Look in the mirror again.

Ask another question.

There is no prize for making the decision faster. I’d rather spend another ten minutes getting something right than have you spend the next ten years wondering why we rushed it.

Quality over quantity

I don’t want tattooing to feel like a production line. A small tattoo still matters. A five-centimetre tattoo can represent something just as significant as a full sleeve.

The amount of skin involved doesn’t determine how important the story is. That’s why my focus is always on the individual appointment.

One person.

One design.

One permanent decision.

That deserves attention.

Your idea doesn’t have to be extraordinary

People sometimes feel as though they need an incredible story before they’re “allowed” to get a meaningful tattoo. You don’t.

Your tattoo can represent someone you love.

A major moment in your life.

A place.

A pet.

A private joke.

Or absolutely nothing beyond the fact that you think the design is beautiful.

All of those reasons are valid. I don’t decide what your tattoo should mean. I help you create it.

Tattooing international clients in Amsterdam

Amsterdam brings people together from all over the world, and that is reflected in the people I tattoo. You don’t need to live in Amsterdam to book an appointment.

If you’re visiting the city and would like to include a tattoo in your trip, contact me beforehand so we can discuss your idea, timing and availability.

Planning ahead is particularly helpful when you’re travelling because healing also needs to fit into your plans. For example, if your Amsterdam visit is immediately followed by several days of swimming and sunbathing, getting tattooed may not be the smartest timing.

Sometimes good tattoo advice includes knowing when not to get tattooed.

What I specialise in

My work primarily focuses on:

Fine Line Tattoos
Delicate tattoo designs built around clean lines, balance and subtle detail.

Single Needle Tattoos
Highly precise work where extremely fine details are an important part of the design.

Tiny Tattoos
Small-scale tattoos designed specifically to work within limited space without sacrificing clarity.

These areas naturally overlap. I don’t believe every tattoo needs to fit perfectly into a category. The technique should serve the idea — not the other way around.

What matters to me

If I had to reduce my approach to a few principles, they would be these:

Listen first.
Understanding the person comes before designing the tattoo.

Be honest.
Good advice is more valuable than automatically saying yes.

Respect the skin.
A tattoo is designed for a living, changing body.

Don’t rush.
Permanent decisions deserve time.

Keep learning.
Tattooing is a craft you never completely finish learning.

Make it personal.
Your tattoo should feel like yours.

Those principles guide every appointment, whether we’re creating an intricate fine line piece or a tiny symbol only a few centimetres wide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tattoo styles do you specialise in?

My main focus is fine line, single needle and tiny tattoos.

Within those styles I work with a wide range of subjects, including botanical designs, animals, handwriting, personal symbols, minimalist illustrations and custom concepts.

Do you only tattoo your own designs?

I create custom work based on your ideas and references.

You can absolutely bring inspiration, photographs or examples of styles you like.

However, I prefer creating an original interpretation rather than directly copying another tattoo artist’s work.

Can I come to you if I don’t know exactly what I want?

Yes.

You don’t need to arrive with a finished design.

If you have a story, subject or general direction, we can use that as the starting point.

Do you tattoo first-time clients?

Absolutely.

Many of the people I work with are getting their first tattoo.

I’ll explain the process beforehand, and you’ll have time to ask questions and make decisions about the final design and placement.

Do you tattoo tourists and international clients?

Yes.

If you’re travelling to Amsterdam, contact me in advance whenever possible so we can discuss the design and find an appointment that works with your travel plans.

What if you don’t think my idea will work?

I’ll tell you why and suggest alternatives where possible.

That could mean changing the size, simplifying a detail, reconsidering placement or approaching the design differently.

The goal isn’t to reject your idea.

It’s to find the strongest way to turn it into a tattoo.

Can you copy a tattoo I’ve seen online?

I prefer not to directly copy another artist’s work.

Send the image anyway — it can be extremely useful as a reference.

We can identify what you like about it and use that information to create an original design.

Where are you based?

I work in Amsterdam.

For exact studio details, appointment information and directions, please refer to the contact or booking information provided with your appointment.

Let’s create something personal