NLnet facts for kids
 |
|
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Stichting |
| Purpose | Free Software Network Research and Development in the Domain of Internet technology |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam Science Park |
|
Region served
|
Worldwide |
|
Membership
|
Individuals |
The NLnet Foundation is a group that helps people and organizations. They work to make the internet a more open and fair place for everyone. NLnet played a big part in bringing the Internet to Europe in the 1980s.
In 1997, NLnet sold its business side to a company called UUNET. This sale gave the foundation money to give out as grants. Now, NLnet uses this money to support projects that improve the internet.
NLnet is famous for helping with open source software. This is software that anyone can use, change, and share freely. They also support projects that create internet standards. Some projects NLnet has helped include DNSSEC, the Tor anonymity network, and Jitsi.
How NLnet Started
NLnet's story began in April 1982. A person named Teus Hagen announced a plan to create network services in Europe. This plan was part of the European Unix Users Group (EUUG) and was called EUnet.
NLnet was the main hub for EUnet in the Netherlands. It operated from a science center called CWI. NLnet was very important in spreading early internet technologies like UUCP and later ARPAnet across Europe. Because of this work, Teus Hagen and other pioneers are now in the Internet Hall of Fame.
NLnet also created the world's first dial-in and ISDN internet service. They used signal wires from the Dutch train system to cover the whole country. NLnet also helped start the AMS-ix foundation. This is a place where different internet networks connect. They also helped create SIDN, which manages the .nl internet addresses.
Becoming a Foundation
The Stichting NLnet, which means NLnet Foundation in Dutch, officially started in February 1989. In November 1994, the foundation created a business company called NLnet BV. This company became the first internet service provider in the Netherlands.
In 1997, a company called UUnet bought NLnet's internet service business. UUnet later became part of Verizon. This sale gave the NLnet Foundation money to become a grant-making organization.
Now, the foundation uses this money to fund new internet technologies. They also support research and development in computer science. NLnet is a recognized public benefit organization in the Netherlands. They have an open call for proposals, meaning anyone in the world can suggest ideas to improve the internet. They also have special funds, like the Internet Hardening Fund. All the results from these projects are shared freely with everyone. They are often released under free and open-source software (FOSS) licenses.
NLnet Labs
In 1999, NLnet started NLnet Labs. This is a special research lab for networks in Amsterdam. NLnet Labs creates software related to the Domain Name System (DNS). DNS helps your computer find websites using names like "google.com" instead of numbers. Some of their well-known software includes NSD, Unbound, and OpenDNSSEC.
