Sak Yant Belgium: getting one from Antwerp, Ghent or Brussels

You don't need to fly to Thailand for a real Sak Yant from Belgium. Here is how to reach the studio in Breda from Antwerp, Ghent or Brussels, and how your appointment works.

You don't need a plane ticket to get a real Sak Yant from Belgium: Silas van Gemert's studio is in Breda, just over the Belgian border, and easy to reach by train and by car. The Brussels-Amsterdam intercity stops in Breda, and from the station it is a ten-minute walk to the studio next to the Grote Kerk. Below you'll find, city by city, how to travel from Antwerp, Ghent or Brussels, what you can do in Breda around your appointment, and how an appointment works.

Why a real Sak Yant isn't tied to Thailand, and how to tell the real thing from a decorative copy, is covered in Sak Yant from Belgium and in where to get an authentic Sak Yant in Belgium. This article is the practical follow-up: your travel plan, one city at a time.

From Antwerp: the shortest route to Breda

From Antwerp, Breda is the easiest trip of the three. By train you board the intercity towards Amsterdam at Antwerpen-Centraal, and it stops in Breda. No change needed. By car you follow the E19 north. After the border the road becomes the A16, which takes you all the way to Breda.

If you drive, allow for traffic around the Antwerp ring road, especially at rush hour. Leave a little earlier than you think you need to, so you arrive relaxed. In the centre of Breda there are paid car parks within walking distance of the studio.

From Ghent: change in Antwerp or Brussels

From Ghent you travel in two steps, which is simpler than it sounds. By train you first go to Antwerpen-Centraal or to Brussels, and there you change to the intercity that runs towards Amsterdam and stops in Breda. When planning, check which connection fits your day best.

By car you take the E17 to Antwerp and then the E19 towards Breda. Here too, the Antwerp area can be busy, so give yourself plenty of time.

From Brussels: get on, and get off in Breda

From Brussels, the train is the most relaxed option. The Brussels-Amsterdam intercity stops in Antwerp and in Breda along the way, so you board in Brussels and get off in Breda. When you book, make sure you pick a train that stops in Breda, because not every train to Amsterdam does.

By car you take the E19 north via Mechelen and Antwerp. Even so, the train is often easier: no ring road and no hunting for a parking space.

Arriving in Breda: the studio next to the Grote Kerk

The studio is at Torenstraat 23-a, right in the old town and directly next to the Grote Kerk, Breda's great church. From the station it is a ten-minute walk. You can see the church tower from a long way off, so finding your way is easy.

Arrive in good time so you don't walk in rushed. A calm start suits a session in which a ritual and a blessing play a central role. Everything about getting there and other practical matters is on the practical info page.

Make a day of it, but plan around your fresh yant

An appointment in Breda combines easily with a day in the city. The old town is compact and easy to explore on foot. The Grote Kerk stands next to the studio, the Grote Markt is around the corner, and between the station and the centre you walk through Park Valkenberg. There are plenty of places for a quiet lunch beforehand or a drink afterwards.

Do plan the day around your fresh yant, though. After the session, skip the long shopping trip with a bag strap over a fresh tattoo on your shoulder, and stay out of the sun. A gentle walk is a better fit. Keep the time for the session open as well: how long it takes depends on the design, the size and the placement, and it can take longer than you expect. So don't book a tight return journey.

Why you don't need to go to Thailand for this

A real Sak Yant lives in the master and the ritual, not in the country where you get it. Silas van Gemert has more than 25 years of experience and, from 2010, spent years learning from monks in Thailand. He works in the traditional way, handpoked, with the kata, the blessing and the life rules that belong to a Sak Yant. Read more about Silas van Gemert.

There is a practical side too. After a Sak Yant you avoid sun and swimming until the skin has healed, usually 2 to 4 weeks. On a beach holiday in Thailand that is hard to do. Close to home you get your yant at a quiet moment, you sleep in your own bed that night, and if you have a question you can simply get in touch with the studio. If you are travelling afterwards anyway, plan 3 to 4 weeks between your session and your departure. How to look after your yant is explained in the aftercare guide.

How an appointment works

A Sak Yant is by appointment only, and it starts with a message. Through the booking page you tell the studio what you are looking for, which design speaks to you and which placement you have in mind.

1. You send a message with your wish, the placement you have in mind and when you are available.
2. Then there is a conversation about what you are looking for, which design fits and how large it will be. Beforehand you get a clear price indication and an estimate of the time.
3. On the day itself your yant is handpoked. At the end of the session there is a blessing, and you receive the life rules that belong to a Sak Yant.
4. You go home with an explanation of the aftercare.

There is no deposit and there are no cancellation fees. If something comes up, let the studio know as soon as possible, ideally 48 hours in advance. All the information for visitors from Belgium is also collected on the page Sak Yant in Belgium.

Frequently asked questions about getting a Sak Yant from Antwerp, Ghent or Brussels (FAQ)

For Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels, Breda is a lot closer than Thailand. If you would like a real Sak Yant, see the book an appointment page for how to plan your visit.