The top-level domain (TLD) “.vlaanderen” is a geographically specific domain associated with the Flemish community in Belgium. Just as “.com” and “.org” are generic top-level domains (gTLDs), “.vlaanderen” is acquainted as a country code top-level domain (ccTLD). More specifically, it falls under the category of generic TLDs (gTLD), notably regional or city TLDs, which represent specific regions or cities.
This specific top-level domain works as a digital signature for Flemish businesses, organizations, and individuals, helping signify their association with Flanders region. For example, a local Flemish business might use the “.vlaanderen” TLD to express their strong ties with Flanders and make it more likely for Flemish visitors to find them.
The “.vlaanderen” TLD is managed by DNS Belgium, the registry responsible for the management of all “.be”, “.vlaanderen” and “.brussels” domain names. According to DNS Belgium (https://www.dnsbelgium.be/en), individuals, businesses, and organisations who identify themselves with the Dutch-speaking Flanders community in Belgium and elsewhere in the world can apply for a domain with .VLAANDEREN.
Although being specific and more localized, the .vlaanderen domain name also creates a global and borderless image being accessible from anywhere in the world. For instance, a Flemish artist could use a “.vlaanderen” domain to showcase work to an international audience, while still highlighting their Flemish roots. The TLD could also be used by diplomatic missions, like embassies or consulates, in order to maintain their strong digital presence whilst representing their specific region.
Registration for .vlaanderen started in 2014 (source: https://www.icann.org/resources/agreement/vlaanderen-2014-12-12-en), and surrender to the general public was made available in 2015. This has helped promote the online visibility of the Flemish community and strengthen the identity of the region, both locally and globally.
International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization responsible for managing and coordinating the DNS, approved the “.vlaanderen” TLD as part of its new gTLD program (source: https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/). This program expanded the number of TLDs available, leading to the creation of a wide variety of new domain extensions.
With the rise of regional and city TLDs, the internet landscape has become more diverse and personalized, providing more domain name options tailored to the unique needs of individuals and organizations worldwide. As internet users, we can expect this trend to continue, with more TLDs representing various cultural, regional, and professional communities emerging in the future.
