Werf Records

Werf Records is a record label started by Dutch band Nits. The name Werf is derived from a family history of Nits frontman Henk Hofstede. His father and uncles had a company dealing with concrete work and carpentry called “Firma Gebroeders Hofstede”. For meetings at their company they always used to say to each other “let’s meet at the wharf” (= werf). Werf Records was distributed in Holland and Belgium by CBS. At that time the music by Nits was released by CBS. The first releases in 1986 by Werf Records were the single Maternité / Study For Portrait Of Van Gogh II (WRFA 1001) and its accompanying album La Grande Parade (WRF 10001) by various artists. During 1986-1988 only three albums and three singles were released. The logo of the label at that time was a factory building with two smoking chimneys. Werf Records reappeared in 2003 in conjunction with mostly Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Netherlands) BV; the successor of CBS after Sony took over this record label. A new label logo was used with the same typography as the 1974 album by Nits (2003). From that moment on the label releases only music by Nits. In 2012 the album Malpensa was released. From then Nits albums were released idependently under their own Werf Records label.