Romy Maasdam

Romy Scarlett Maasdam is driven by a deep-rooted love for illustration, paper, and craftsmanship. As an illustrator through and through, she seeks out the playful, the tangible, and the authenticity of handmade images in every piece she creates. Her studio is filled with inks, printing presses, and stacks of paper—exactly the materials that allow her to stay true to herself.

Her sources of inspiration form a rich and eclectic universe: nature, old botanical and scientific prints, comic books, tattoos, typography, crafts, tin toys, packaging, and food. For Romy, the world is an endless collection of visual stories waiting to be translated into her own visual language.

After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Illustration at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, her creative path took an unexpected yet logical turn. When she moved to the Vijfhoek neighborhood in Haarlem, she already thought to herself: someday I’ll start my own little business here. Ten years and hundreds of tattoos later, that dream became a reality. In a space that feels like a dream that came true just in time, she opened her tattoo shop, House of Scarlett.

The neighborhood embraced her right away. Several Vijfhoek residents even had small pentagons immortalized on their skin—a playful tribute to their neighborhood and to Romy’s distinctive style.

Whether she’s illustrating, printing, or tattooing, Romy’s work exudes the same curiosity, the same love for detail, and the same warm, artisanal energy.