A woman in the Netherlands has undergone dozens of painful tattoo removal procedures after her former boyfriend covered her body with around 250 tattoos, many of which featured his name and initials.
According to The Nigerian Tribune, the relationship has since ended, prompting the woman to begin the long process of erasing the marks left behind.
While it is not uncommon for people to tattoo their partner’s name on their bodies—sometimes out of love, pressure, or emotional influence—this case stands out for its extreme nature. The story was brought to light by a Dutch support organisation, Stichting Spijt van Tattoo (Tattoo Regret), which assists people dealing with unwanted tattoos.
The woman, identified only as “Joke,” revealed that her ex-boyfriend was deeply controlling and possessive. He reportedly purchased a low-cost tattoo machine online and personally inked her body repeatedly, marking her with phrases like “property of,” along with his name and initials.
According to Andy Han, founder of the foundation, the man deliberately tattooed parts of her body he believed may have been touched by other men, including intimate areas. Some of the markings were also placed on her face and neck, making them highly visible.
Joke endured years of abuse during the relationship. She disclosed that she coped with the situation by turning to alcohol and medication to numb the emotional and physical pain.
Images published by Dutch outlet NL Times show a stark transformation—before-and-after photos reveal her face once covered in tattoos, now largely cleared following multiple removal sessions.
Despite reporting her ex-boyfriend to authorities, Joke says justice has been elusive. Officials reportedly struggled to pursue legal action, as the man claimed she had consented to the tattoos, making the case difficult to prove.
Advocates say the situation highlights the complexities of abuse, especially when manipulation and coercion are involved.
Joke, along with the tattoo regret foundation, hopes her story will encourage others in similar situations to seek help and speak out.
“People who have been deeply hurt can still rebuild their lives,” she said. “If I can do it, others can too.”
Although she expects to remove most of the tattoos by the end of the year, she acknowledges that healing from the psychological trauma may take much longer……See More
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