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    • .brussels

    Generic top-level domainsIDNDNSSEC

    Overview

    .brussels is a geographic generic top-level domain (gTLD) for Brussels, Belgium. The string was applied for and is operated by DNS Belgium (formerly DNS.be). It was created to provide a domain space closely linked to the Brussels region and city.

    History

    • Applicant and operator: DNS.be (DNS Belgium) applied for .brussels with the support of the Government of the Brussels Region and was awarded a service concession contract to operate the gTLD for a 10-year period.
    • Key milestones:
      • Application submitted during ICANN's New gTLD Program application window (applications began 12 January 2012; reveal day referenced 13 June 2012).
      • Contract signed: DNS Belgium received a Registry Agreement from ICANN on 6 February 2014.
      • Passed technical evaluation: announced by ICANN on 21 March 2014.
      • Delegation: .brussels was delegated to the DNS root zone on 18 June 2014.
      • Startup approval: ICANN approved startup information on 9 July 2014.
    • Launch phases (as approved):
      • Brandholders (Sunrise): 01/09/2014 → 01/10/2014
      • Local governments and organisations: 02/10/2014 → 03/11/2014
      • Private companies (early registrations): 13/11/2014 → 15/12/2014
      • Landrush: 16/12/2014 → 15/01/2015
      • Free/general registration from 20/01/2015 onwards
    • Availability: After Sunrise and Landrush (with auction services provided by Pool.com and validation by Valideus), .brussels entered General Availability without restrictions.

    Usage and Audience

    The stated purposes and intended users for .brussels include:

    • Inhabitants, companies, organisations and local government institutions of the Brussels Region and the city of Brussels.
    • Enhancing the digital presence and visibility of Brussels as a region and brand.
    • Enabling city marketing and providing a geographic identifier for services and goods targeted at the Brussels audience.
    • Allowing interested parties from inside and outside the region to target potential customers associated with Brussels.

    Registration Rules

    • Registry operator: DNS Belgium (registry for .be also).
    • Concession/operation period mentioned as a 10-year service concession awarded by the Brussels Region.
    • Launch phased process included Sunrise, local-government phase, private-company phase, Landrush, and General Availability (dates listed above).
    • After the initial launch phases and auction/validation processes, .brussels is in General Availability without restrictions.

    SEO and Brand Impact

    • The application materials for .brussels emphasize strengthening visibility and brand identity for Brussels, enhancing city marketing opportunities and enabling geographically relevant domain names for residents, businesses and institutions.

    Notable Cases or Examples

    • (No specific notable domains or famous examples were provided in the source material.)

    Operator

    DNS.be vzw

    Whois

    % IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object

domain:       BRUSSELS

organisation: DNS.be vzw
address:      Engels Plein 35, bus 01.01
address:      Leuven 3000
address:      Belgium

contact:      administrative
name:         CEO
organisation: DNS Belgium vzw
address:      Engels Plein 35, bus 01.01
address:      Leuven 3000
address:      Belgium
phone:        +32 16 284970
fax-no:       +32 16 284971
e-mail:       iana-admin@dnsbelgium.be

contact:      technical
name:         CTO
organisation: DNS Belgium vzw
address:      Engels Plein 35, bus 01.01
address:      Leuven 3000
address:      Belgium
phone:        +32 16 284970
fax-no:       +32 16 284971
e-mail:       iana-tech@dnsbelgium.be

nserver:      A.NSSET.BRUSSELS 194.0.6.1 2001:678:9:0:0:0:0:1
nserver:      B.NSSET.BRUSSELS 194.0.37.1 2001:678:64:0:0:0:0:1
nserver:      C.NSSET.BRUSSELS 194.0.43.1 2001:678:68:0:0:0:0:1
nserver:      D.NSSET.BRUSSELS 194.0.44.1 2001:678:6c:0:0:0:0:1
nserver:      Y.NSSET.BRUSSELS 120.29.253.8 2001:dcd:7:0:0:0:0:8
nserver:      Z.NSSET.BRUSSELS 194.0.25.14 2001:678:20:0:0:0:0:14
ds-rdata:     62419 8 2 d753ce72a834c746df60a7d2c7bd6e64151c576fcd066f95e451c3b5955d8294

whois:        

status:       ACTIVE
remarks:      Registration information: http://www.nic.brussels

created:      2014-06-05
changed:      2025-06-17
source:       IANA

    Registrars