Hoarding hamsters at the AH: a supermarket cartoon
In Dutch, panic buying is called hamsteren: acting like a hamster. In this cartoon Hans Esser takes the word literally. Dozens of hamsters have stripped a blue Albert Heijn supermarket bare. They stuff their cheeks, push overloaded trolleys and leave nothing but crumbs and empty boxes. Step back and you see it: the floor and the empty shelves form one big hamster face with whiskers.
What do you see in the hoarding hamsters cartoon?
The familiar blue Albert Heijn sign hangs at the top, and below it the shop is in chaos. On every shelf a hamster is eating, hauling or cramming its cheeks even fuller. Bananas, cheese and vegetables disappear fast; price tags and empty boxes are left on the floor.
It is a seek-and-find picture: the longer you look, the more you notice. Two round shelves are the eyes, a tray of red tomatoes is the nose and the stepped shelves on both sides are the whiskers. The light floor forms the fur of a hamster face.
One poster, two supermarkets
This cartoon is the top half of a larger poster. Below the balcony a red Hoogvliet begins, where mice attack the cheese. Read more on the cartoon of mice in the Hoogvliet in Soest. Together the two halves show how Hans Esser uses colour: everything blue on top, everything red below, and a bridge in the middle linking the two worlds. See both halves together on the supermarket cartoon of AH and Hoogvliet in one image.
The complete poster: hamsters above, mice below
A busy cartoon of your own shop, company or club?
A cartoon full of details works well as a poster in the canteen, an anniversary gift or an eye-catcher on social media. Hans Esser draws your own shop, office or clubhouse, with colleagues, customers or members in the leading roles. Send a few photos, tell him the story and you always see a proof first.
A cartoon costs from €150; an elaborate scene with many figures costs more and you hear the price in advance. See what a custom cartoon costs or read how an order goes from photo to poster.
About this cartoon
This is a fictional, satirical drawing and personal work by Hans Esser, made in 2026. It was not commissioned by or made with Albert Heijn or Hoogvliet. The brand names belong to their owners and are used only to make the joke. The drawing says nothing about real shops, their stock or their customers.
Mice in the Hoogvliet in Soest
The other half: mice in the Hoogvliet
Below the hamsters, a red Hoogvliet is taken over by mice. See the satirical cartoons in the portfolio for more scenes, or ask for a busy cartoon of your own shop or company.
Mice in the supermarket: a cartoon of the Hoogvliet in Soest
Frequently asked questions
What does the Dutch word hamsteren mean?
Hamsteren means buying far more than you need, out of fear that something will run out or because it is on offer. It comes from the hamster, which carries food home in its cheek pouches. This cartoon takes that image literally.
Why are there hamsters in an Albert Heijn?
Because in Dutch, hoarding and the supermarket go hand in hand. The blue house style makes the shop instantly recognisable and the hamsters turn it into a joke. It is satire: the cartoon was not made by or for Albert Heijn.
Which face is hidden in the cartoon?
The floor and the empty shelves form a large hamster face. Two round shelves are the eyes, a tray of tomatoes is the nose and the slanted shelves on both sides are the whiskers. The bottom half of the poster hides a mouse face in the same way.
Who made this cartoon?
Hans Esser, the cartoonist behind De Cartoonist. He spent many years in the graphic arts and now draws personal cartoons, caricatures and scenes from photos. Read more about cartoonist Hans Esser.
Can I buy this cartoon as a poster?
Would you like this poster on your wall? Send a message via WhatsApp or info@decartoonist.com and ask about the options and size. The image is protected by copyright, so use on your own website or in print is always agreed first.
Can Hans draw a busy cartoon of my own shop?
Yes. Send photos of your shop, company or club and describe the joke or story you want. Hans Esser makes a proof first, followed by one revision round. A cartoon costs from €150; a busy scene with many figures costs more and you hear the price in advance.
May I share this cartoon on social media?
Sharing with a link to this page is fine, preferably with the name De Cartoonist. To use the cartoon in advertising, a newsletter or on a product, ask for permission first via info@decartoonist.com.
Does this cartoon say anything about the real shop?
No. It is a fictional, satirical drawing. There are no real hamsters in the shop and the cartoon says nothing about the stock, staff or customers of Albert Heijn.
Ready to see yourself as a cartoon?
Send one clear photo, tell us the style you like, and the cartoonist gets to work. You see a proof before anything is final.