Henk Westbroek

Hendrik Otto "Henk" Westbroek (born 27 February 1952) is a Dutch musician, politician, radio host and entrepreneur.

From 1979 to 1991, Westbroek was a vocalist for the pop group Het Goede Doel, one of the most successful Dutch-language bands of the 1980s with hit songs such as "België (Is er leven op Pluto... ?)" and "Vriendschap". Following the band's end, he began a solo career and had another hit in 1998 with "Zelfs je naam is mooi". He was also an entrepreneur, owning cafés in Utrecht for multiple decades.

Starting in 1998, Westbroek became a politician for the parties Leefbaar Utrecht and Leefbaar Nederland. He left politics in 2002. He would also attempt a run for mayor of Utrecht in 2007.

Early life

Westbroek was born in the former municipality of Zuilen. He was adopted and raised by his aunt Riet van Leur, who he believed to be his biological mother. Westbroek grew up in Drenthe. When he was 12, the family moved back to Utrecht. When Westbroek was 17, he learned that his "aunt" – Riet's sister Nel – was actually his biological mother, who had Westbroek out of wedlock and gave him up for adoption out of shame. He has never met his biological father, but said "according to the neighbours, it was the fishmonger." When Westbroek was 50, he learned that he had a half-brother, because his mother gave birth to a son with another father.

Westbroek described his adopted father as "a social democrat and a bit of a communist", who died from black lung disease because he was exposed to coal while working at the municipal electricity company.