Stock image · not CirK’s work
Fineline
Thin, precise lines with a great feel for detail. Small but powerful — from a subtle word to a fine botanical sprig.
Tattoo ✦ piercing ✦ Tough but Tender
CirK Tattoo
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
Stock photo · not our studio
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.
Small tattoos start from €50.
Stock image · not CirK’s work
Floral
Flowers run like a thread through Mariska’s work: peonies, roses and winding branches — from a single bloom to a full sleeve.
Custom design
Your story, her pen. Every design is drawn uniquely for you — no two CirK tattoos are ever the same.
Portfolio
These slots are deliberately empty: they will soon hold real work by Mariska, added with her permission. Until then, her full portfolio lives on Instagram.
A small prick, a big difference
Piercings
Besides tattoos, CirK is also the place for piercings — done by Sanne (@piercings_by_sanne). Sterile, with honest advice and proper aftercare.
- Ear piercings — from lobe to helix
- Nose piercings
- Navel and other body piercings
- Advice on jewellery & healing
Certain piercings are possible from age 16 with written parental consent — in that case bring a parent and both ID cards. Ask about options and piercing days via DM or phone.
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 via DM or phone — 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. ✦
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
Here too the slots are deliberately empty: real clothing by Mariska will go here, added with her permission.
Worn by…
Well-known Flemish faces wear her jewellery and clothing — and it could just as easily be your jacket. The photos and names below will be added once they are confirmed and cleared for use.
TODO · famous name
TODO · famous name
TODO · famous name
Have a unique piece in mind? That’s possible too. Send a DM or call — 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 (DM is the easiest way to book)@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
- Send a DM, call 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, piercing 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.
Aftercare — piercing
- Rinse twice a day with a sterile saline solution.
- Only touch with clean hands — and never twist your jewellery.
- Expect ±12 weeks of healing for an earlobe, up to 12 months for cartilage.
- Redness that won’t fade, or any doubt? Just drop by.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book an appointment?
There is no online booking system (yet) — it’s deliberately personal. Send a DM to @cirktattoo, call +32 475 52 73 10 or email Cirktattoo@icloud.com. Briefly describe your idea, the placement and the size.
From what age can I get a tattoo or piercing?
The sector rule in Belgium: tattoos from age 18. Certain piercings (such as earlobe, nose or navel) are possible from 16 with written parental consent — in that case bring a parent and both ID cards. Questions about your situation? Contact the studio in advance.
How much does a tattoo cost?
Small tattoos start from €50. Every design is custom work, so the exact price depends on size, detail and placement. Send a DM with 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.