About NLnet foundation

The history of NLnet goes back to 1982 when a group of Europeans led by former NLnet director and member of the Internet Hall of Fame Teus Hagen announced the European Unix Network (EUnet) which became the first public wide area network in Europe and the place where internet was introduced to Europe. NLnet also pioneered the worlds first dial-in and ISDN infrastructure with full country coverage. In 1997 all commercial activities were sold to UUnet (now Verizon) and since that time NLnet has focussed on supporting the open internet, and the privacy and security of internet users. NLnet's core business is to support independent organizations and people that contribute to an open information society. We provide microgrants, advice and access to an interesting global network we established over the years.

More about the history of the foundation | Annual reports

Mission Statement

The foundation "Stichting NLnet" stimulates network research and development in the domain of Internet technology. The articles of association for the NLnet foundation state: "to promote the exchange of electronic information and all that is related or beneficial to that purpose".

NLnet does not directly benefit from the undertaken projects, and all developments are published as libre and open source.

Read the Articles of Association (in : statuten, PDF)

NLnet Tax Authority Status

Stichting NLnet is a recognised philanthropic non-profit foundation according to the Netherlands Tax Authority (Belastingdienst), and there is a vast network of tax treaties with most countries around the world. Donations to NLnet foundation qualify under many circumstances as charitable donations. For USA based donors, NLnet foundation has a valid Equivalency Determination (ED) issued by NGOsource. To make it easy to review our compliance documentation regarding this status as a Public Benefit Organisation (Dutch: Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling, or ANBI) we have compiled an overview of information, according to current Netherlands tax regulations. If you are interested in what this means for you, we can recommend the fiscal and legal overview Legal environment for philanthropy in Europe, produced by Philantropy Europe Association (Philea). Considering a substantion donation but don't know where to start — feel free to contact us.

Cooperation

NLnet is independent. We do directly and indirectly cooperate with many different organisations and programmes. If we are not working with you, and you think we should: contact us.

Fiscal Number and Business Registers

• Legal Entities and Partnerships Information Number (Rechtspersonen Samenwerkingsverbanden Informatie Nummer, RSIN): 007989398
• Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel) Amsterdam: 41208365
• D-U-N-S Number: 412056173

As an employer

NLnet foundation is run by a bureau operated by professional staff, supervised by a supervisory board. If there are job openings you'll find these listed under career opportunities.