The Story Of Indonesian Citizens Working As Artists In The Netherlands, Fantastic Income 5,000 Euros Per Month So They Can Buy A House

Ajo Chudria, an Indonesian citizen (WNI) who lives in the Netherlands and works as a tattoo artist. (Mery Handayani/VOI)

DEN HAAG - Monitoring other countries with adequate skills makes Ajo Chudria, an Indonesian citizen (WNI) who lives in the Netherlands has a fantastic income. This man of West Sumatra descent gets money from his work as a tattoo artist.

Ajo also shared his experience working in the Netherlands with VOI. He admitted that he could earn an average income of up to 5,000 euros per month or the equivalent of around Rp. 87 million (assuming an exchange rate of Rp. 17,400 per Euro).

"But every month there are ups and downs, like in the summer from July to August, the turnover is somewhat reduced. Because in Europe, that's when people are on vacation in the summer. So on average they don't want to be tattooed," he told VOI when met at the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands, written Sunday, May 26.

The daily chairman of Diaspora Minang Sakato in the Netherlands also admitted that with the income he got, he could buy a house in Alkmaar City, northern Netherlands.

"For the house, thank God I can buy a house here (Netherlands)," he said.

Again, talking about the house purchased there, Ajo bluntly admitted that as an Indonesian citizen it was not complicated by the Dutch government, including to get a loan from the bank.

"It's not (it's difficult to buy a house in the Netherlands). Because it can be seen from the type of visa, from the residence permit. Then, from the income, if you want to (submit) a mortgage to the bank," he said.

In fact, Ajo said that if he had a residence permit in the Netherlands, the obligations and rights he got would be the same as the Dutch themselves. He said, what distinguishes only does not have the right to vote to elect a prime minister.

Even though we use Indonesian passports, the only difference is that we cannot participate in the election to elect the prime minister. If it's like the election in Indonesia, I can vote, get a ballot here," he added.

Even though he already has a fantastic home and income in the Netherlands, Ajo admits that he has a desire to return to the country. Ajo wants to retire as a tattoo artist to be able to go back and forth between the Netherlands and Indonesia.

But, for now, he has no plans to invite his wife and children to live in Indonesia. He admitted that he wanted his baby to be educated in the Netherlands to completion.

"I want to enjoy retirement later back and forth in Indonesia and the Netherlands," he said.

Ajo said, at first he underwent his profession as a painter. Then began to switch to learning tattoo art starting in 2002 ago. At that time, tattoos began to be loved and accepted as a work of art.

Ajo also studied various types of tattoos. Traditionally, Indonesian original tattoos are one of the typical Mentawai tattoos. Then, realists, mauri styles, to blackworks.

Ajo also admitted that he flew to Germany to increase his knowledge of tattoos. Until finally, in 2010 he decided to have a career as a tattoo artist in the Netherlands.

I used to be a painter, I had a painting studio here. In 2010 I was still learning to participate in other conventional tattoos, I learned to get to Germany. Previously I was also traveling, so I was a guest artist in other tattoo studios. In 2017 I just opened my own tattoo studio, Chudria Tato," he added.

Ajo said his job as a tattoo artist in the land of the Windmill was called the name 'Vrij Beroep'. This means, he said, no training courses were determined and certified by the government.

However, Ajo explained that when someone wants to become a tattoo artist in the Netherlands, they must be registered and obtain a certificate from the health department. The certificate must also be extended every three years. Later, the health department will routinely control the tattoo studio every year.

"It's not difficult (to open a business in the Netherlands). My experience is easy, because all routes are clear. It's not too complicated, we just have to come to one office, we can register our business, the rules are clear," he explained.

Currently, said Ajo, he only works 8 hours a day. Therefore, his customers must make an appointment before coming to his tattoo studio.

Those who come to me have to make an appointment first, because they pay for my skills and time. So I don't want to do tattoos, other clients come. So it seems unprofessional. Currently, I work a maximum of 8 hours per day," he added.