Silas: blessed as a Sak Yant master in Thailand

The story of Silas van Gemert: from a boy from Klundert to Sak Yant master, trained for years with the monks in Thailand, now in Breda.

From Klundert out into the world

Silas van Gemert grew up in a warm and loving family in Klundert, in the Dutch province of Brabant. Travelling, discovering and the search for meaning became the thread of his life. In 2008 he lived in New York, where his eldest daughter Marley was born. Two years later, in 2010, that search took him to the heart of Thailand.

Years with the monks

In Thailand, Silas submitted for years to the discipline of the monks. He learned to truly understand the sacred art of Sak Yant: not only the forms and patterns, but also the language, the blessings and the spiritual power behind them.

He received the knowledge and the blessing to place Sak Yant tattoos and to activate them with the accompanying mantras. In the tradition, only an initiated master may apply these sacred tattoos.

The world as his teacher

For Silas, the world is his teacher. His travels took him to the world's oldest tattoo shop in Israel, the jungle of Brazil and a spiritual journey full of life lessons through India, Nepal and Tibet. In 2010 he shared his work at a major tattoo convention in Singapore.

Passing it on from generation to generation

In 2013 Silas opened his first own shop, by the water in his parents' garden in Klundert, built together with his father. His father was also his first customer. Later the shop moved to Uden and finally to Breda. In 2024 his daughter Marley came to the Netherlands and set her first tattoo on him, just as he once tattooed his own father. The circle was complete.

Authentic Sak Yant in Breda

From his studio in Breda, Silas brings the authentic Sak Yant tradition to the Netherlands and Europe. As one of the few certified Sak Yant masters in Europe, he does not simply place a tattoo, but performs a complete ritual, with the mantras, prayers and blessing that belong to it.