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his right-handed tattooist who died· on Saint Patrick's Day 1984 \Vas
isted in the book, Art, Sex, Symbol, as "Holland's Premier Artist." In
1974, when that book was published, it was not far off the mark. Peter
de Haan was known in the tattoo business as, "Tattoo Peter." He was
born in Aarhus around the tum of the century. Aarhus is a seaport on the
east coast of Jutland is one of the largest cities in Denmark. De Haan
early tattoo history is unknown to the Archive but he probably started
tattooing by hand as a seaman. In the Tattoo Club of America newsletter
from October 1964 we find out that in 1961 Tattoo Peter went to work
with Tattoo Ole in Copenhagen. The newsletter stated that Tattoo Peter
had been tattooing for 30 years in Aarhus before joining Ole. In that
same issue there was a story about Rich Mingins visiting Tattoo Peter in
1964. "During the day Peter showed them Holland from the comforts of
his Mercedes-Benz and at night the night life of Amsterdam. Therese,
(Peter's \vife) is Parisian and, everyone agreed, a second Edith Piaf.
When she sang in one of the clubs one could have heard a pin drop
during her singing." It is unclear_ ':vhe~ Tattoo Peter left Copenhagen but _
he \Vorked in at least t\VO locations 1n Amsterdam ..St. Olofssteeg and
later Nieu\ve Brugsteeg #~8. Tattoo Peter \valked with a limp and a
cane he is said to have stepoed on a mine and lost his leg in the .
expl~sion. Peter's tattooing style \Vas classic old school, bold line/solid·
color. Like Tattoo Ole, Tattoo Peter's tattooing was influenced by the
l American master August "Cap" Coleman of Notfolk VA.
TATTOO ARCHIVE© 1994
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