Carnavalslied Dispute: Henk Westbroek & Duo’s Song Removed from YouTube

A carnavalslied, or carnival song, co-written by Henk Westbroek and the duo Lanterfantje has been removed from YouTube following a copyright claim filed by the music publisher of Henk Temming, a former member of the Dutch band Het Goede Doel. The song, titled “Carnaval, Wie Viert Het Niet?,” is a reworking of Westbroek and Temming’s earlier hit “Sinterklaas (Wie Kent Hem Niet?).” The dispute highlights the complexities of copyright and parody in the music industry and has escalated into a public disagreement between the two Henks.

The conflict began when Westbroek collaborated with journalist Thomas van Groningen and DJ Koen Verhoof, who together form Lanterfantje, on the new version of the song. Temming quickly voiced his disapproval, stating he did not appreciate the lyrics and felt his name should have been credited on streaming services like Spotify. “In the music world, if you want to create a different text on an existing number, you contact the person who wrote it. And then you always come to an agreement. Now that hasn’t happened and that’s strange, inappropriate and uncouth,” Temming said, according to reporting from Omroep Brabant.

Temming’s music publisher, Nanada Music, subsequently filed the copyright claim that led to the video’s removal from YouTube. While the song remains available on Spotify as of today, February 3, 2026, Lanterfantje’s Thomas van Groningen anticipates it will also be taken down shortly. “We are saddened by this,” Van Groningen told Omroep Brabant. “What we regret most is that we had contact with Henk Temming’s music publisher last week. They said they wouldn’t take the number offline and that we would reach an agreement.”

Lanterfantje finds themselves caught in the middle of a disagreement between Westbroek and Temming, a situation they feel they have little to do with. “The core of the conflict is about who wrote the song,” they stated.

Westbroek himself has strongly criticized Temming’s actions, calling them “sneuneus” (a Dutch term roughly translating to petty or mean-spirited) and characterizing the dispute as “treiterij” (bullying or harassment). He maintains that parody is legally protected in the Netherlands and accuses Temming of personal animosity driving the conflict. “He has no leg to stand on. This is just harassment. In the Netherlands, parody law exists. You are allowed to parody songs. He thinks: ‘come on, I’m going to harass the other Henk again.’ He hates me and then you do these petty things,” Westbroek said, as reported by Shownieuws.

Van Groningen of Lanterfantje asserts that they followed all proper procedures, notifying Temming’s representatives that they had created a parody. He also stated that Temming is still receiving his due royalties. “We properly informed the people who represent Mr. Temming that we have made a parody of the song. He gets his share properly, so it is not that we have stolen anything. The copyright still rests with the original copyright holder,” Van Groningen explained.

The situation remains unresolved, with Temming reportedly describing the reworked song as “broddelwerk” (sloppy work). The conflict underscores the challenges artists face when reinterpreting existing material, even within the bounds of parody, and the potential for disputes over copyright and creative control. Lanterfantje is reportedly considering legal action, according to Omroep Brabant, but the outcome of this carnavals soap opera remains uncertain.

This isn’t the first time Temming has taken issue with Westbroek’s work. The current dispute builds on a pre-existing tension between the two artists. The removal of the song from YouTube adds another layer to their complicated history, and highlights the ongoing debate about artistic license and the protection of intellectual property.