Tjeerd Royaards
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tjeerdroyaards.com
Tjeerd Royaards
@tjeerdroyaards.com
5.4K followers 160 following 690 posts
Political cartoonist for Dutch newspaper Trouw and international media. Also editor-in-chief of Cartoon Movement. Cartoons in English and Dutch.
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tjeerdroyaards.com
Wheel of misfortune. Cartoon for Belgian newspaper @demorgen.be: www.demorgen.be/puzzels-cart...

#Trump #Europe #NATO #future
Cartoon showing a game show titled 'The future of Europe'. The two 'O's' in the title are the NATO and the EU logo. Trump is standing at a spinning roulette wheel holding up a small ball. The roulette wheel only has two options where the ball can land: a tiny green segment is labeled 'good', while the rest of the circle is one large red segment labeled 'not so good'. NATO secretary general Mark Rutte and Ursula von der Leyen look at the wheel in despair, while Putin sits in the audience eating popcorn.
January 13, 2026 at 8:34 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
Welcome to the VladXiDonocracy. Cartoon for Dutch newspaper @trouw.nl.

#Trump #Putin #XiJinping #HumanRights #democracy
Cartoon showing a monument with golden statues of Trump, Putin and Xi Jinping, each holding up 1/3 of the world. The pedestal of the monument reads:'World Order. Est. MMXXVI'. Riot police stand around, looking menacing, while people fearfully walk around the monument. On the side of the pedestal graffiti reads 'Democracy + human rights'. A woman is running away, having dropped a can of spray paint on the ground; she is being chased by two riot police men waving batons. In the background, a man is pushing a garbage container with the UN logos and the EU flag in it.
January 12, 2026 at 7:23 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
Job and wealth creation. Cartoon from last year.

#capitalism #economy #greed #nature
Cartoon showing a cliff being excavated at the bottom by people with shovels and pickaxes. They are getting their shovels and pickaxes from a bin that is labeled ‘jobs’. The bottom of the cliff also features industrial machinery, leaking toxic fluid and billowing black smoke. People are feeding the excavated ground into the machine. A large pipe goes to the top of another cliff where large bags of money are deposited next to a swimming pool with two people lounging in it.
January 11, 2026 at 1:38 PM
tjeerdroyaards.com
America's engine. Cartoon from one year ago.

#Trump #lies #democracy
Cartoon showing a car with the US flag on it and Lady Liberty sitting behind the wheel. The hood is open, revealing there is no engine. An engine with the face of Trump is lowered into the engine bay. Pulleys on the engine have the logo's of X, Meta and Truth Social, while a cap on the top of he engine (for oil or gas) has the word LIES printed on it. The cap is surrounded by green goo that has been spilled while filling the engine up. The exhaust of the engine comes out of Trump's mouth and is billowing black smoke. In the back we see dumpster with a discarded engine labeled 'Biden' in it.
January 10, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Reposted by Tjeerd Royaards
cartoonistsrights.org
CARTOONIST DEFENDERS in the Amsterdam area, join us at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities & Social Sciences (NIAS) on Tuesday for a discussion on the issues of free expression.
@emadelrosso.bsky.social @forhum.bsky.social @zehraomerovna.bsky.social @tjeerdroyaards.com
Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences Panel & Exhibition “Jokes Aside: cartoons, censorship and free speech” Speakers: Emanuele del Rosso (European Cartoon Award); Alberto Godioli (Forum for Humor and the Law); Zehra Ömeroğlu (cartoonist); Terry Anderson (Cartoonists Rights); Tjeerd Royaards (Cartoon Movement) Tuesday January 13th 15.30-16.30 panel 16.30-17.00 Q&A 17.00-17.30 drinks NIAS Seminar room, Korte Spunhuissteeg 3, 1012 CG Amsterdam
January 9, 2026 at 7:01 PM
tjeerdroyaards.com
RIP human(-made) creativity? Cartoon for Dutch newspaper @trouw.nl: www.trouw.nl/cartoons/tje...

Note: this cartoon was made without any use of AI.

#AI #creativity #ArtificialIntelligence #BigTech
Cartoon showing a one-man-band robot playing a flute, accordion and drums simultaneously, while also featuring large screens and a printer spewing out text documents and pictures. A large mesmerized crowd is following the robot down the street. Heading in the opposite direction we seen a funeral procession; the coffin has a photo of a human brain on it and is carried by a painter, a photographer, a musician and a writer. In the back of the cartoon is a fancy building with a brass sign next to the front door that reads 'Big tech'. Behind the window, we see a man in a suit using a remote to control the robot.
January 9, 2026 at 7:12 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
Protests in Iran. Cartoon from 2022 (let's hope something really changes this time around). Originally published in Dutch newspaper @trouw.nl, also published this week in French magazine @courrierinter.bsky.social
Cartoon about protests in Iran, showing a dam made up of riot police sitting on each other's shoulders, holding back a flood of protesters. Khamenei is looking up at the dam, spotting cracks in it. Page from Courrier International.
January 8, 2026 at 3:25 PM
tjeerdroyaards.com
It probably should also include Xi Jinping, but this cartoon from last year seems very relevant again.

#Trump #Putin #WorldOrder
Cartoon showing a bridge, decorated with a bas-relief showing Trump and Putin extending their hands to each other, making a heart sign. On the bridge the 'real' Putin and Trump are looking up at a sign that reads 'New world order', with an arrow pointing forward. Under the bridge, we see a slum with ramshackle buildings. One is covered with a torn-up flag of Europe, and one is using a NATO flag as a door. A dilapidated tent in the back has the ICC logo on it.
January 7, 2026 at 1:14 PM
tjeerdroyaards.com
Nieuws voor onze zuiderburen: vanaf vandaag is er elke dinsdag een cartoon van mijn hand te vinden in @demorgen.be✨
Pagina van Belgische krant De Morgen waarop de cartoon te zien is. Een cartoon toont vier grote treden, waarop kleine witte mannetjes proberen te klimmen. Een groot bord luidt: 'Hoe word je een moderne autocraat - training'. Op de eerste trede staat een bord met de tekst 'Wees een narcist'; de mannetjes op deze trede kijken in spiegels. Op de tweede trede staat een bord met de tekst 'Ontken de realiteit'; de mannetjes op deze trede doen een quiz. De vraag op het scherm luidt: 'Klimaatverandering is A: Echt B: Nep'. Alle deelnemers kiezen het antwoord 'nep'. Op de derde trede staat een bord met de tekst 'Wijs de schuld aan'; een mannetje op deze trede geeft instructies aan de oproerpolitie, die een migrantenfamilie over de rand van een gigantische vuilnisbak duwt. De vuilnisbak is al gevuld met mensen die borden dragen met de teksten ‘Red de aarde' en 'Mensenrechten'. Op de vierde en laatste trede van de ladder staat een bord met de tekst 'Grijp de macht' en een rode stoel op een rode loper.
January 6, 2026 at 8:30 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
Where to next? Cartoon for Dutch newspaper @trouw.nl: www.trouw.nl/cartoons/tje...

#Venezuela #Trump #Maduro #oil #Greenland
Cartoon showing Donald Trump riding in a golf cart with a blue flashlight on top, together with US soldiers. The cart is pulling a freight cart with Nicolas Maduro tied up in it, as well as a bunch of oil drums. The side of the freight cart reads ‘Team America: World Police’. Behind the cart Lady Justice is lying one the ground; she has just been run over. A book titled ‘International Justice’ has fallen from her hands. Meanwhile, the golf cart has stopped at an intersection with a sign that points to Canada in one direction, and Greenland in the other. Trump is posting towards Greenland.
January 5, 2026 at 7:13 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
My cartoon ‘Playground’ was selected as Cartoon of the Year by the staff from toonpool.com✨
Certificate stating the cartoon ‘Playground’ is Cartoon of the Year. The cartoon itself shows a playground. A kid with a EU logo on his shirt is sitting alone on a swing, watching a beaten up kid lying on the ground in an Ukraine shirt. A kid looking like Putin is standing looking down on the beaten up kid, while a kid-Trump says to the Ukraine kid 'Say sorry!'. Meanwhile, a North Korea kid is playing with a nuclear bomb, an Israel kid is using a skull from Gaza as a football and China kid is threatening a kid in Taiwan shirt.
January 4, 2026 at 11:04 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
I’ll give this a repost. Cartoon from last month.

#Trump #Maduro #Venezuela
Cartoon showing Donald Trump lying on his belly reacting into the vending slot of a soda machine, trying to get one out without paying. The soda machine is labeled 'Venezuela' and the soda cans in the machine are actually oil barrels, with 'Oil' writing on them in the Coca-Cola font.
January 3, 2026 at 6:08 PM
tjeerdroyaards.com
Iedereen de beste wensen!

Ik begin 2026 met een post die ik eigenlijk op 31 december had moeten delen (maar ik was op vakantie). @trouw.nl vroeg alle tekenaars naar hun beste cartoon van 2025: www.trouw.nl/opinie/trouw...
January 3, 2026 at 4:11 PM
tjeerdroyaards.com
I did an interview with Aljazeera about being a cartoonist and the power of cartoons: www.instagram.com/reels/DSo25I...
‎الجزيرة‎ on Instagram‎: ""مساحة الرسم عن غزة وفلسطين أصبحت أوسع" هذا ما قاله رسّام الكاريكاتير السياسي الهولندي تييرد روياردس، الفائز بجائزة الكاريكاتير الأوروبي في نسختها السابعة عن رسم تناول الإباد...
434 likes, 15 comments - aljazeera on December 23, 2025‎: ""مساحة الرسم عن غزة وفلسطين أصبحت أوسع" هذا ما قاله رسّام الكاريكاتير السياسي الهولندي تييرد روياردس، الفائز بجائزة الكاريكاتير الأوروبي في ن...
www.instagram.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:30 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
The holiday season: a time to share, a time of goodwill and a time to deport migrants...

This is my final cartoon of the year; happy holidays see you all in 2026!

#Xmas #Christmas #deportation #migrants #ICE
Cartoon showing a street with people doing Christmas shopping, carrying lots of presents and heavy bags full of groceries. On the wall we see Christmas posters with the texts ‘A time to share’ and ‘Peace on earth and goodwill to all’. Below the street is an arch with a poor migrant family; two children are using crayons to draw a Christmas tree and presents on the wall. An ICE raiding team is descending down from the street, guns out, to arrest the migrant family and deport them.
December 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
Getting into the Christmas spirit. Cartoon for Dutch newspaper @trouw.nl: www.trouw.nl/cartoons/tje...

#Christmas #Xmas #Ukraine #Sudan #PeaceOnEarth
Cartoon showing a living room where Santa is decorating a Christmas tree. A box next to him is filled with Christmas ornaments and is labeled ‘Christmas spirit CRISIS TEAM’. Behind him elves are shoving skulls and bombs labeled ‘Gaza’, ‘Ukraine’ and ’Sudan’ into a closet and trying to close the closet door so they do not spill out again. Outside we see a war going on in the distance, with buildings on fire and bombs being dropped while nearby an elf is operating a snow cannon to make the garden white.
December 22, 2025 at 7:17 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
Mijn top 10 van cartoons die ik gemaakt heb in 2025 over Nederlandse onderwerpen. Allen verschenen in @trouw.nl. Iets makkelijker kiezen dan mijn internationale top 10, omdat ik de neiging heb wat minder over Nederlandse onderwerpen te tekenen.

1 van 3.

#top10 #BesteVan2025 #PolitiekeCartoons
Cartoon met daarop een gigantische ijzeren bal met een lus eraan. Op de bal staat de tekst 'stikstof'; onder de bal worden planten en dieren platgedrukt. Tussen de platgedrukte planten en dieren staat een bord met de tekst 'Nederlandse natuur'. Dick Schoof komt in een klein kraanwagentje (het kraanwagentje uit Pluk van de Petteflet) aanrijden. In de achterbak ligt een document met de title 'Vonnis'. Een vliegende meeuw met het gezicht van Wilders schijt over het vonnis heen. Cartoon waarop een bioscoopzaal te zien is. Het publiek in de zaal is boos en bang, terwijl ze naar een film getiteld 'Invasie' kijken. Op het filmdoek is een horde zombies met koffers te zien die op een typisch Hollands dorpje aflopen. In de projectiekamer staat Geert Wilders naast de projector die, naast het projecteren van de film, ook de peilingen meet. Uit de zijkant van de projector komt een papier met een grafiek, waarop te zien is dat de PVV er goed voor staat. Naast Wilders hangt een poster met de tekst 'Filmhuis De Zondebok presenteert: PVV documentaire avond. In de projectieruimte liggen ook nog andere filmblikken met de titels 'De klimaathysterie' en 'Het linkse bedrog'. Cartoon waarop te zien is hoe Alexander en Maxima een krans leggen bij het Nationale Monument op de Dam. Daarachter staat het kabinet en Geert Wilders. De leden van het kabinet hebben allemaal hun vingers in hun orem. Wilders draait zich om en maant de mensen achter het kabinet tot stilte. De groep achter het kabinet bestaat uit Gazanen die lijkzakken dragen en wanhopig om aandacht schreeuwen. Cartoon met daarop een huis met twee ramen en een voordeur. Achter een raam zien we een tafel met heren in pak vroom bidden terwijl een man aan het hoofd van de tafel uit de Bijbel leest. Achter het tweede raam staat een vrouw af te wassen. Voor de voordeur ligt een deurmat met daarop artikel 1 van de Nederlandse Grondwet (verbod op discriminatie). Op de deur hangt een bord met het SGP logo en de tekst 'voeten vegen AUB'.
December 20, 2025 at 12:18 PM
tjeerdroyaards.com
New year, new digs. Cartoon for Dutch newspaper @trouw.nl.

#Putin #Trump #HappyNewYear
Cartoon showing a spooky house on a hill at night, surrounded by fog; a path leads up to the house. A man with a head in the shape of the world is standing at the entrance to the path carrying suitcases. The entrance is flanked by a wall, with statues of gargoyles in the shape of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The house number '2026' is mounted in brass numbers on the wall.
December 19, 2025 at 8:39 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
It’s that time of the year again! Here is my personal top 10 of international cartoons (I’ll post a Dutch top 10 soon) I did in 2025.

If you’d like to get my cartoons directly by email, you can subscribe to my newsletter: www.tjeerdroyaards.com

#Top10 #BestOf2025 #politicalcartoons

1 of 3.
Cartoon showing Jeff Bezos walking into the office of the Washington Post, followed by two servants pushing wheelbarrows filled with money. The slogan 'Democracy Dies in Darkness' lies discarded on the ground, while a new slogan 'Whatever You Say, Mr. Bezos' is being installed above the door. A cartoonist labeled 'Ann Telnaes' walks out through a side door with a sign on it that reads 'Critical cartoonists and journalists - exit here'. Cartoon showing a dystopian cityscape. In the background we see tall shining skyscrapers with the logos of Meta and X, the name TRUMP and the letters AI; in the foreground we see a run-down neighborhood with houses and stores with broken windows and doors that are boarded up. One store has the word 'FACTS' on its awning, and a sign on the window that says 'out of business'. Across the street is a broken sign that reads 'Diversity & inclusion'. At the back of the street is a broken sign that says 'TRUTH'.. Cartoon showing a street corner. We are looking through the window of Rainbow elementary school , where children are taught about sharing. Outside, people are casually walking past homeless people sitting on the street, looking at their smartphones. A big SUV drives through a puddle with its rear wheel, the water splashing over a homeless person. A billboard shows a large finger pointing at departing migrants, with the text 'F#ck off! Vote selfishly'. Cartoon showing a large billboard. A worker is putting up a new poster, showing EU soldiers, tanks and nuclear missiles, accompanied by the text: 'Prepare for War'. Behind the new poster, we can still see the one that was there before, which has a wind turbine and the text 'Towards a sustainable future'. Below the billboard is a truck marked 'EU campaigns' with more posters in it. People in the street are going about their daily lives and looking up at the new poster.
December 18, 2025 at 12:26 PM
tjeerdroyaards.com
For @cartoonmovement.com I make a top 10 of the best cartoons each year. Not an easy task, given that 11,793 cartoons were submitted to the platform in 2025, but I think I've managed to create a nice overview: cartoonmovement.substack.com/p/the-best-c...

#top10
Image showing small fragments of 10 cartoons.
December 16, 2025 at 11:37 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
How to be a modern autocrat. Cartoon for Dutch newspaper @trouw.nl: www.trouw.nl/cartoons/tje...

#democracy #dictators #leadership
Cartoon showing 4 big steps, with small white men trying to climb up the giant steps. A big sign reads 'How to be a modern autocrat - training course'. The first step has a sign that reads 'Be a narcissist'; the little men on this step are gazing into mirrors. The second step has a sign that reads 'Deny reality'; the little men on this step are doing a quiz. The question on the screen is 'Climate change is A: Real B: Fake'. The contestants all choose the answer 'fake'. The third step has a sign that reads 'point the blame'; a little man on this step is directing riot police, who are driving a migrant family over the edge, into a giant waste bin that is already filled with people carrying signs 'See the earth' and 'human rights'. The fourth and final step on the ladder has a sign 'Grab power' and a red chair, place on a red carpet.
December 15, 2025 at 8:47 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
Interview in @trouw.nl: www.trouw.nl/cultuur-medi...

#EuropeanCartoonAward
December 14, 2025 at 12:17 PM
tjeerdroyaards.com
Stukje in @trouw.nl!
December 13, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by Tjeerd Royaards
stinej.bsky.social
Luister nu naar De Cartoongasten! Hoe kijken drie topcartoonisten terug op 2025? En hebben ze zin om komend jaar veel Jetten, Bontenbal en Yesilgöz te tekenen? Met Jip van den Toorn, Hajo de Reijger en @tjeerdroyaards.com ⬇️ open.spotify.com/episode/1rgm...
#6 - De Cartoongasten 2025
open.spotify.com
December 13, 2025 at 9:50 AM
tjeerdroyaards.com
This was a great week! Got to hang out with some great cartoonists, did a podcast (Ill share the link later today for Dutch speakers) and found out I've won the European Cartoon Awards 2025!

#EuropeanCartoonAward
December 13, 2025 at 9:21 AM