A 52-year-old woman from Rotterdam has shared a harrowing story of abuse, accusing her ex-partner of forcing her to get around 250 tattoos of his name, initials, and possessive phrases on her face and body. According to her, the incidents occurred between 2020 and 2021, during their relationship.
The woman, identified as Joke, revealed that about 90% of her body was covered in black ink. She claims her ex-partner used a cheap tattoo machine bought online and forced her to endure hours of painful sessions. According to her account, tattoos were also placed on highly sensitive areas of her face and body.
Her ex-partner has denied the allegations and stated that everything was done with her consent during their relationship. After their separation, Joke says she filed a report with the police, but so far no charges have been brought, as local reports indicate authorities have struggled to prove lack of consent.
In an effort to reclaim her life, Joke is undergoing a lengthy and costly laser tattoo removal process. She is receiving significant help from Andy Han, founder of the Dutch organization Stichting Spijt van Tattoo, who has been assisting her for years in removing the marks of her past.
According to Han, when Joke approached the organization, she was also struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, consequences he links to the trauma she experienced. He emphasized that her case highlights how difficult it is to prove psychological abuse and control in relationships.
A fundraising campaign for her treatment has surpassed its goal, raising over £26,000, while the total cost of the process is expected to exceed £25,000. Joke has managed to remove most of the tattoos from her face and hopes to be completely free of them by the end of the year.
She said she wants her story to serve as a message of hope for other women who have experienced violence or control in relationships: even after trauma, recovery is possible.