Extension
.be
.be in short
The .be domain is the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Belgium, operated by DNS Belgium. Registration is fully open to anyone worldwide with no local-presence requirement, and it is also popular for ‘be’ word play domains.
.be at a glance
Type
ccTLD — Country-code top-level domain
Registry
DNS Belgium
Launched
1989
Country / scope
Belgium
Restrictions
Open to anyone — no Belgian residency required
Typical price
$9/yr
Example sites
Belgian sites
Source: IANA root zone database & registry data · methodology
Where to register a .be domain
Prices are indicative and set by each registrar; renewal rates may differ from first-year promotions. Links may be sponsored. tldlist.us is an independent reference and not a registrar.
What does .be mean?
The .be extension is the national domain of Belgium, “be” being the ISO country code (from België / Belgique / Belgien). Delegated in 1989 and managed by DNS Belgium, it is the default address for Belgian businesses and individuals across the country’s Dutch, French and German communities.
Because “be” is also the English verb, .be doubles as a popular extension for short, expressive domain hacks — Google famously uses youtu.be for YouTube short links — giving it reach well beyond Belgium itself.
Who uses .be?
Belgian companies, shops, media and public institutions use it as their home-market domain. At the same time, international brands and startups register .be for “to be” style names, link shorteners and product taglines, drawn by the open rules and the verb pun. That dual life — serious national domain plus playful hack — is part of its appeal.
.be registration rules and requirements
.be is fully open. DNS Belgium imposes no residency, nationality or business requirement — anyone in the world can register a .be name on a first-come, first-served basis with just valid contact details. This openness, combined with low prices, is why it is one of Europe’s most accessible ccTLDs.
How much does a .be cost?
A .be domain is inexpensive, usually about $8–$12 per year. Belgian and international registrars both carry it at stable rates, and the low price makes it attractive both to local owners and to anyone wanting a clever ‘be’ hack.
| Registrar type | Typical .be price (per year) |
|---|---|
| Belgian / EU registrars | ~$8–11/yr |
| International resellers | ~$9–12/yr |
.be pros and cons
Pros
- The trusted default domain for the Belgian market.
- Fully open registration — no residency requirement.
- Cheap and stable pricing.
- Great for ‘to be’ domain hacks (e.g. youtu.be).
Cons
- Limited meaning outside Belgium for serious branding.
- Belgium is a small market, so national reach is modest.
- Not a global substitute for .com.
- Best short hack names are largely taken.
Example .be websites
- youtu.be — Google’s YouTube short-link domain, the classic .be hack.
- Belgian retailers, media and institutions on .be.
- International ‘be’ word-play and link-shortener domains.
.be — frequently asked questions
What is the .be domain?
The .be domain is the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Belgium, operated by DNS Belgium. Registration is fully open to anyone worldwide with no local-presence requirement, and it is also popular for ‘be’ word play domains.
Who can register a .be domain?
Anyone, anywhere. .be has fully open registration through DNS Belgium with no Belgian residency, nationality or business requirement — you only need valid contact details.
How much does a .be domain cost?
A .be domain typically costs around $8–$12 per year, making it one of Europe’s cheaper ccTLDs. Pricing is stable across Belgian and international registrars.
Why do non-Belgian sites use .be?
Because “be” is also the English verb, .be is widely used for short, expressive domain hacks and link shorteners — the best-known being Google’s youtu.be. Open registration and low prices make this easy.