Fineline
Thin, precise lines with a great feel for detail. Small but powerful — from a subtle word to a fine botanical sprig.
Tattoo ✦ Tough but Tender ✦ Custom clothing
CirK Tattoo
Customised fashion by Mariska Van Lissum
Fineline & floral tattoos, drawn with circus blood. Done by M.
Leo de Béthunelaan 111 · 9300 Aalst, Belgium
From the circus ring to the tattoo chair
About Mariska
CirK Tattoo is the studio of Mariska Van Lissum — tattoo artist, jewellery maker and Aalst native through and through (“oilsjtenes in hert en nieren”, as she puts it in the local dialect). Since 2013 she has been drawing tattoos in Aalst, each one signed “Done by M”.
The name CirK is no accident. Mariska grew up in her grandmother’s circus — Circus Jhony, Aalst’s very own circus. Between the ring and the costume wagons she watched her aunts work with needle, thread, beads and sequins. “It’s in my blood”, she says. That eye for detail and love of a little magic goes into every design.
Everyone who knows me, knows in what kind of a magicworld I grew up in as a child. The Circus… This made me the person who I am today. (…) Cirk is also a little piece of Aalst. My passion became my work. Bringing that together… that is the magic.
Her studio is a small wonder in itself: part tattoo parlour, part cabinet of curiosities filled with circus memorabilia. Step inside and you won’t find a conveyor belt — just one artist, one chair, and all the time in the world for your story.
- Since 2013 in Aalst
- Fineline & floral
- By appointment · walk-ins on Wednesday
- Done by M
Fineline · floral · custom
Tattoos
From delicate fineline to lush flower sleeves: every design is drawn to measure, in consultation, at your pace. Bring an idea, a memory or just the itch — together we’ll turn it into something that exists nowhere else.
All tattoos start from €80.
Floral
Flowers run like a thread through Mariska’s work: peonies, roses and winding branches — from a single bloom to a full sleeve.
Dotwork
Images built from thousands of dots — from softly graded grey to graphic scenes.
Cover-up
An old or faded tattoo reworked into something you're proud of again.
Custom design
Your story, her pen. Every design is drawn uniquely for you — no two CirK tattoos are ever the same.
Portfolio
A selection of her work — click a photo to enlarge. Everything is shown with the client's permission; her full, up-to-date portfolio is on Instagram.
Be a ReBel, feel like a PrinCess
Tough but Tender
When lockdown forced the studio to close for nine months, Mariska bought a set of pliers and an arsenal of beads. What started as a pastime became a second passion: Tough but Tender — her own line of handmade jewellery.
Tough but tender. That goes for me as much as for my jewellery.
- Handmade in Aalst — no two pieces are alike
- About a week and a half of work per piece
- Swarovski stones and glass beads
- Nickel-, lead- and cadmium-free
- Also for rent — for your wedding, party or shoot
Interested in buying or renting a piece? The jewellery can be seen and tried on in the studio. Ask by phone or email — there is no webshop.
From the ring to the palace
Princess Delphine of Saxe-Coburg has worn one of Mariska’s necklaces, and her jewellery sparkled in the finale of The Voice van Vlaanderen.
Just don’t call her a court supplier. ✦
The jewellery
Handmade statement pieces — click to enlarge. For sale or hire; try on and buy in the studio.
In the press
Hand-painted · bejewelled · custom
Mariska Van Lissum
Where her jewellery carries a brand name, Mariska signs her clothing with her own name. She hand-paints and bejewels jackets, denim and more entirely by hand — every piece a unique, wearable work of art.
Clothing
Hand-painted and bejewelled pieces — click to enlarge. Each piece is unique and made to measure.
Worn by…
Well-known Flemish artists wear her custom pieces on stage — and it could just as easily be your jacket. Names are shown only once each person has given permission.
Public figure · name to confirm
Public figure · name to confirm
Public figure · name to confirm
Have a unique piece in mind? That’s possible too. Call or email — we’ll look at the options together.
Appointments, address & good advice
Practical
Contact
- Call or text+32 475 52 73 10
- EmailCirktattoo@icloud.com
- Instagram (portfolio & updates)@cirktattoo
- FacebookCirK TaTTOo
Opening hours
| Monday | closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 – 16:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 – 16:00 · walk-in ✦ |
| Thursday | 10:00 – 16:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 – 16:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 – 16:00 |
| Sunday | closed |
By appointment — except on Wednesday, when you can simply walk in.
How to book
- Call, text or email with your idea: what, where on your body and how big. Example photos are always welcome.
- Together you’ll settle on a design and a date. For larger pieces a deposit may be asked — it is deducted from the final price.
- Come to your appointment rested and fed, with your ID card in your pocket.
Ink as a gift?
CirK accepts the Cadeaubon Aalst and TadaBon local gift vouchers — a way to give a tattoo or piece of jewellery without picking the design yourself.
Coming soon
Soon you’ll be able to order and pay for a CirK gift voucher right here. Bear with us — for now it goes through the channels below or simply in the studio.
Already possible: order a voucher via cadeaubonaalst.be or tadabon.be.
Leo de Béthunelaan 111, 9300 Aalst — walking distance from Aalst railway station; parking nearby (Parking Keizershallen or Parking Station).
Larger map
Aftercare — tattoo
- Leave the foil on for 2 to 4 hours (second skin: 4 to 5 days).
- Wash 2–3 times a day with lukewarm water and a mild, pH-neutral soap. Pat dry.
- Then apply a thin layer of aftercare ointment.
- No swimming, sauna, sun or tanning beds for 4 to 6 weeks.
- Itching is normal — don’t scratch. Healed? Protect your tattoo with a high SPF.
Every skin is different: you’ll get personal aftercare tips after your session.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book an appointment?
There is no online booking system (yet) — it’s deliberately personal. Call +32 475 52 73 10, send a text or email Cirktattoo@icloud.com. Briefly describe your idea, the placement and the size.
From what age can I get a tattoo?
The sector rule in Belgium: tattoos from age 18. Questions about your situation? Contact the studio in advance.
How much does a tattoo cost?
All tattoos start from €80. Every design is custom work, so the exact price depends on size, detail and placement. Call or email your idea and you’ll quickly get an honest estimate.
Should I bring anything to my appointment?
Your ID card. Beyond that, come rested and fed — it makes the session a lot more pleasant. Wear comfortable clothing that leaves the tattoo area easy to reach.
Does CirK work with deposits?
For larger designs or longer sessions a deposit may be asked; it is simply deducted from the final price. You’ll hear the exact arrangements when your appointment is scheduled.
Can I drop in without an appointment?
Yes — every Wednesday is walk-in day. On other days the studio works by appointment, so you never have to wait long.
I’m pregnant or on medication — can I get tattooed?
Tattooing during pregnancy or while breastfeeding is strongly discouraged — contact the studio in advance. If you take blood thinners or other medication that affects wound healing, be sure to mention it beforehand; then we’ll look at what’s possible together.