To continue our exploration of all the country code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) and their significance in the digital world, we turn our attention to .be, the ccTLD for Belgium. This small, yet highly developed and multilingual country in Western Europe has a vibrant online presence, underpinned by its .be domain. We will also touch on the intricacies of .be Whois, the registry managing this ccTLD, the landscape of doing business online in Belgium, and how the .be domain facilitates a strong digital identity for Belgian entities.
Belgium’s digital infrastructure is among the most advanced in the world, making it a fertile ground for e-commerce, digital services, and online innovation. The .be domain plays a pivotal role in this ecosystem, offering businesses, organizations, and individuals a platform to connect with local and international audiences. Managed by DNS Belgium, the registry not only oversees the registration and maintenance of .be domain names but also ensures the stability and security of the Belgian segment of the internet.
Below we will explore how the .be Whois service provides essential information about domain registrations, the benefits and processes associated with registering a .be domain, and the impact of digital presence on businesses operating in Belgium. We’ll also touch on the regulatory environment, highlighting how Belgium’s policies support a safe and thriving online marketplace.
Join us as we uncover the digital pulse of Belgium through its .be domain, illustrating the country’s commitment to innovation, its open and dynamic online market, and the opportunities it presents for digital entrepreneurs and established businesses alike. Whether you’re looking to expand your digital footprint into Belgium or curious about the significance of ccTLDs in global e-commerce and digital identity, our exploration of .be offers valuable insights into one of Europe’s digital frontiers.
We are writing this article because our APIs work on .be domains.
- Domain Availability API allows domain availability checks.
- Whois API gets parsed Whois records.
- SSL API checks if there is an SSL record installed on a .be domain name.
- Screenshot API will take a screenshot and generate a thumbnail on any .be domain.
Whois .Be Domain
Whois is a widely used Internet record listing that identifies who owns a domain and how to get in contact with them. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) regulates domain name registration and ownership. Whois records have proven to be extremely useful and have developed into a critical resource for maintaining the integrity of the domain name registration and website ownership process.
The .be Whois service specifically relates to .be domains registered under Belgium’s country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD). This service is managed by DNS Belgium, the organization responsible for the operational stability and security of the Belgian part of the internet. The .be Whois database provides detailed information about registered .be domains, including the domain owner’s contact information, domain registration and expiration dates, and the domain’s current status (e.g., active, inactive, expired, or suspended).
Whois services are essential for various stakeholders in the internet community, including:
- Website Owners and Businesses: They might use WHOIS to check if the domain name they want for their website is available or when it might become available if it’s currently taken.
- Cybersecurity Professionals: These experts use it to track down who owns a domain that might be involved in suspicious or harmful activities online, like phishing or spreading malware.
- Law Enforcement and Legal Teams: If a website is involved in illegal activities, these teams use the WHOIS information to identify and contact the website owner.
- Researchers and Analysts: People studying the internet’s structure or market trends might use this data to see who owns certain domains and how domain ownership changes over time.
- Competitors: Businesses might look up who owns a domain to find information about competitors’ online strategies.
- Journalists and Investigators: They might use it to find out who is behind a website for stories or investigations they’re working on.
The .be Whois database ensures transparency in the ownership and administration of .be domains, contributing to a safer and more trustworthy online environment. However, due to privacy laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, personal information of domain registrants may be redacted or masked to protect their privacy. DNS Belgium has implemented measures to comply with these regulations while still providing enough information for the Whois database to serve its intended purpose.
This JSON represents a WHOIS record for the domain name “shop.be”, as retrieved from the WHOIS server “whois.dns.be”. Here’s a breakdown of the key information provided in the record:
- Status: “0” and “Successfully processed” indicate that the query was processed without errors.
- whois_server: The WHOIS server that provided this data is “whois.dns.be”.
- registered_trusted: The domain is registered with a trusted registrar, indicated by
true
. - limit_hit:
false
suggests that the query limit has not been exceeded, so the data is valid and not restricted due to too many requests. - registered:
true
confirms that the domain is currently registered. - premium:
false
indicates that this is not a premium domain. - domain_status: The domain has a status of “NOT AVAILABLE” for new registrations and “clientTransferProhibited”, which means transfers of the domain are restricted, likely to prevent unauthorized changes.
- date_created: “1999-04-02 00:00:00” is the date the domain was first registered, showing that it has been active since 1999.
- date_updated: The update date is not provided.
- date_expires: The expiration date is not provided, which could be due to privacy reasons or the specific policies of the WHOIS server.
- contacts: No contact information is provided, likely due to privacy regulations like GDPR.
- nameservers: Lists the DNS nameservers associated with the domain, which are part of Amazon Web Services (AWS) DNS infrastructure.
- disclaimer: Contains the disclaimer from DNS Belgium, outlining the terms of use for the WHOIS information, emphasizing privacy protection, and the prohibition of misuse of the data.
- emails: No email contacts are provided, again likely due to privacy concerns.
- whois_raw: Indicates that raw WHOIS data is “Disabled due to GDPR”, showing compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation to protect personal data.
- whois_name: The name associated with the WHOIS record is “Dns”.
- _cached:
false
indicates that the response is not from a cache, meaning it is fresh. - requests_available: Shows that there are 16 requests available to the user, indicating a limit on how many WHOIS queries can be made within a certain timeframe.
This WHOIS record provides a snapshot of the domain’s registration details, respecting privacy laws and regulations. However, personal contact details and some specific dates are omitted due to GDPR, which aims to protect personal information.
About .be Domains
The “.be” domain is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Belgium. It is managed by DNS Belgium, which is the organization responsible for operating Belgian top-level domains. The .be domain was first introduced in August 1988, making it one of the early country code top-level domains.
.be domains are popular in Belgium for businesses, organizations, and individuals wanting to establish a Belgian presence online. They are seen as a primary choice for those who wish to cater to the Belgian market or represent Belgian identity on the internet. The .be domain is known for its straightforward registration process and is available for registration by anyone, not just residents of Belgium.
As for the number of .be domains, the exact number fluctuates over time as new domains are registered and old ones expire or are deleted. As of February 2024, there were approximately 1.7 million registered .be domains. This number has been growing steadily over the years, reflecting the popularity of the .be domain both within Belgium and internationally.
DNS Belgium, the registry for .be domains, also manages other Belgian top-level domains like .vlaanderen and .brussels, further catering to the specific identities within Belgium. DNS Belgium is known for its commitment to internet security and innovation, including efforts to combat domain name abuse and support internet privacy and sustainability.
In terms of Belgium and .be being a global player, they are doing well. But, they aren’t in the top ccTLD circle which is reserved for Germany, China and their neighbours .nl (The Netherlands).
.be Domain Extension Is a ccTLD
A ccTLD, or Country Code Top-Level Domain, is a type of domain name that is used to indicate the country or a specific geographic area where the website or domain is registered. Each ccTLD corresponds to a two-letter code derived from the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 standard. These ccTLDs are designated for use by individual countries or territories and are managed by national registries appointed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
Here are 5 examples of ccTLDs from around the world:
CcTLDs are popular for several reasons:
- Local Presence: They allow businesses and individuals to establish a local presence in a specific country or region, which can be crucial for local branding and marketing efforts.
- Customer Trust: Customers in a given country often perceive websites with their country’s ccTLD as more trustworthy and relevant to their needs, as it indicates a local entity.
- SEO Benefits: Search engines sometimes use ccTLDs as a factor in determining the geographical relevance of a website, which can benefit local search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Websites with a ccTLD are more likely to rank higher in searches originating from that country.
- Availability: Compared to the crowded space of generic top-level domains (gTLDs) like .com or .net, ccTLDs may offer more availability for desired domain names, allowing users to register shorter or more relevant domain names for their purposes.
- Cultural and Linguistic Relevance: For non-English speaking countries, ccTLDs support the use of local languages and scripts (IDNs – Internationalized Domain Names), which can be important for cultural and linguistic identity.
Overall, ccTLDs play a crucial role in the global internet infrastructure, offering a way for entities to highlight their geographical location and connect more effectively with local audiences.
Belgium’s Digital Boom
Belgium stands as a testament to the rapid adoption and sophisticated use of internet technologies in Europe, showcasing impressive internet penetration rates that rank among the highest globally. With the majority of the Belgian population having access to the internet, the country has embraced the digital age with open arms, facilitating a robust infrastructure that supports widespread connectivity. This digital readiness has laid a solid foundation for the growth of e-commerce, making Belgium a vibrant marketplace for online businesses.
The e-commerce sector in Belgium has seen substantial growth, driven by an internet-savvy population that values the convenience, variety, and flexibility of online shopping. Belgians frequently shop online for a wide range of products and services, including fashion, electronics, and groceries. The government’s commitment to enhancing digital literacy and protecting online consumer rights has further bolstered consumer confidence in e-commerce, creating a favorable environment for online businesses. Additionally, Belgium’s strategic location at the heart of Europe, combined with its multilingual workforce, offers unique advantages for e-commerce businesses looking to expand their reach across the European market.
Doing business online in Belgium requires an understanding of the local digital landscape, including compliance with EU regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Services Act. Moreover, the .be domain plays a crucial role in establishing a local online presence, signaling to Belgian consumers a commitment to the local market. With its high internet penetration, thriving e-commerce sector, and supportive regulatory environment, Belgium presents a promising opportunity for digital entrepreneurs and established businesses looking to tap into the European digital economy.
Where Can I Buy .Be Domains?
If you want to play a role in the Belgian digital economy, what better way to start, than by registering a domain name with .be domain extension. Since we know a thing or two about largest domain registrars, we’ve looked at the biggest players and their domain availability for .be domains.
- Squarespace.com for example offers several European domain extensions, including .it, .nl, .UK and .eu, but not .be. This is a good example that .be domains aren’t available everywhere.
- GoDaddy as the largest domain registrar in the World, you can buy .be domains from them.
- Lexsynergy – offers trademark protections and, as such, offers domain registration for ccTLDs around the world (1300+ TLDs), including Belgian domains. We interviewed Daniel Greenberg, their Founder and CEO.
- Marcaria – Marcaria has been our client for several years. Marcaria.com stands as a leading online platform for global trademark and domain name registration and protection. With more than two decades of expertise, the company has successfully provided services to over 180,000 customers across 180 countries and territories.
- Complete list – If you want to see the entire list of domain registrars that offer .be domain registration, click here.