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Dutch artist Tjeerd Royards was awarded the 2025 European Cartoon Award in its seventh edition for a caricature criticizing the genocide faced by Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli occupation, depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The European Cartoon Award committee announced on Saturday that Dutch artist Tjeerd Royards has won the 2025 Cartoon of the Year award in its seventh edition for a drawing condemning the genocide inflicted on Palestinians by the Israeli occupation, represented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The announcement of the award, considered one of the most prestigious honors granted to political cartoonists in Europe, was made during a ceremony held at the Central Library in The Hague as part of European Cartoon Day.
The event was attended by artists, critics, activists and journalists, amid growing interest within European society in the role caricature plays in public debate.
Royards won the top prize for a cartoon published in the Dutch newspaper Trouw, in which he delivered a scathing critique of Israel’s campaign of violence against Palestinians, offering a bold visual commentary on developments in the Middle East war.
The jury said in a statement that the work is distinguished by its “powerful symbolism and bold expression,” noting that it confronts viewers with a harsh reality that cannot be ignored and underscores the role of political cartooning as an effective artistic tool for exposing repressive practices and stimulating public debate.
The committee also awarded runner-up prizes to Turkish artist Zehra Omeroglu for a drawing focusing on women’s rights issues and to Jordanian cartoonist Emad Hajjaj for a work addressing the complexities of international peace negotiations.
Swiss artist Patrick Chappatte received an honorable mention in recognition of his overall artistic contributions.
This edition saw the participation of over 400 artworks from over 30 countries, from which 15 artists were shortlisted for the final selection.
Established in 2019, the European Cartoon Award serves as a platform to support freedom of expression and encourage artists to address political and social issues through satirical drawing at a time when spaces for critical expression are shrinking in many media and political contexts.
Tjeerd Royards is an award-winning Dutch political cartoonist based in Amsterdam. He has worked in the field since 2005 after earning a master’s degree in political science from the University of Amsterdam.
He previously worked for the Dutch newspaper NRC and currently works for Trouw, with his cartoons published by major international outlets including The Washington Post, The New York Times, the BBC, and The Guardian.
He is also editor-in-chief of the global platform Cartoon Movement and a member of international organizations advocating for cartoonists’ rights and peace.
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