Dutch woman subjected to horrific abuse as partner tattoos his name on her body 250 times

Amsterdam. While getting a partner's name or initials tattooed is a common trend, the story of a woman in the Netherlands who suffered extreme abuse has shocked the world.

It has been revealed that a controlling and violent man tortured his girlfriend by tattooing his name and initials on her body approximately 250 times to prove she was his 'property'.

The Dutch foundation 'Stichting Spijt van Tattoo' (Tattoo Regret) brought the painful reality of the woman, identified as 'Joke', to light. Having endured years of violence, the woman had turned to alcohol and medication to cope with the trauma.

Her ex-boyfriend bought a cheap tattoo machine online and inscribed 'his property' and his name on various parts of her body. According to foundation founder Andy Han, the man tattooed areas like her breasts and buttocks—fearing they had been touched by other men—to assert control and ownership. Even more gruesome, the woman's face and neck were also covered in tattoos.

Photos released by the Dutch newspaper 'NL Times' show the woman's face disfigured by the tattoos. However, with the help of the foundation, the process of removing these tattoos from her face and body using laser technology has begun.

By sharing her story, Joke has inspired other victims of violence to come forward and seek help. 'No matter how deep the wound, a person can rise again; if I can do it, anyone can,' she wrote on the foundation's website.

Despite a long battle for justice, the perpetrator has not yet faced any punishment due to legal complexities. Although Joke filed a police report, the case could not proceed due to a lack of evidence after her ex-boyfriend claimed the tattoos were done 'with consent'.

She expressed that while any reasonable person would understand that no one voluntarily gets tattoos near their eyes, nose, or ears, she feels victimized by legal loopholes. Joke aims to have all the tattoos removed by the end of this year, but the mental trauma she has endured will likely take many more years to heal.