Introduction
The NLnet Foundation (Dutch: Stichting NLnet) is a nonprofit, philanthropic foundation based in Amsterdam that supports the development of an open internet for everyone. With roots stretching back to the early days of the internet in Europe, NLnet funds and empowers projects that strengthen the internet’s security, openness, decentralisation, and resilience.
History and Background
Early Beginnings and Internet Pioneering
The NLnet Foundation traces its history back to 1982, when a group of European pioneers including Teus Hagen launched the European Unix Network (EUnet) — one of Europe’s first wide‑area networks and a key milestone in bringing the internet to the continent.
NLnet later contributed to establishing the first dial‑in and ISDN infrastructure covering the Netherlands, helping make Amsterdam one of the earliest connected hubs for European internet traffic.
From Networking Operations to Foundation Work
In 1997, NLnet sold its commercial internet provisioning activities to UUNET (now part of Verizon), enabling the foundation to focus solely on funding activities that promote an open, secure, and inclusive internet.
Today, NLnet’s mission is rooted in supporting organisations and individuals who develop open source software, protocols, and services that improve the internet — from core infrastructure to user‑facing tools.
Mission and Purpose
The core mission of the NLnet Foundation is to stimulate network research and development in internet technology that benefits society. This includes:
- Promoting open standards and open protocols.
- Funding tools that strengthen internet security, privacy, and user control.
- Supporting decentralised and federated technologies that advance digital autonomy.
- Fostering open hardware, open data, and open science.
NLnet does not benefit commercially from its grants — all funded developments are published under open source or libre licences so that results are freely available to the global community.
Governance and Structure
NLnet is registered as a public benefit organisation under Dutch law (ANBI), governed by a supervisory board and run by professional staff based in Amsterdam. It operates independently and collaborates with diverse international partners on projects and funding programmes.
The foundation maintains an endowment that enables sustainable funding of technology initiatives and offers expertise — including advice, mentoring, and community networking — to grantees.
Funding and Grants
Types of Support and Granting Programmes
The NLnet Foundation offers open calls and funding programmes designed to support work that contributes to a free, open, and secure internet:
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NGI Zero Commons Fund: Supports projects building new internet commons that are open, trustworthy, and privacy‑respecting.
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NGI TALER: Focuses on privacy‑preserving electronic payments.
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NGI Fediversity Fund: Promotes easy‑to‑use, decentralised, hosted cloud services and user empowerment.
Grants typically range from €5,000 to €50,000 (with potential for scaling on proven impact) and are open to individuals and organisations worldwide.
Application and Support Features
NLnet runs bi‑monthly open calls, allowing proponents to submit proposals on an ongoing basis. Funding is tied to open source outcomes and often includes additional support such as security and accessibility audits, mentoring, and licensing advice.
Major Programmes and Initiatives
Next Generation Internet (NGI) Funding
NLnet participates in the European Commission’s Next Generation Internet (NGI) initiative, coordinating funds that nurture digital commons and empower end users with secure, interoperable, and socially beneficial technology.
Through these NGI funds, NLnet has funded dozens of innovative projects across the tech stack — from core internet standards to user‑oriented applications.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
The foundation’s support extends to a wide range of open source and decentralised projects that enhance internet infrastructure, privacy, and user freedom. Examples include:
- Projects such as Peertube and Jitsi that offer decentralised video and conferencing tools.
- Grants to support privacy‑oriented tools like WireGuard and NoScript.
- Funding for modern authentication systems like the Apereo CAS Project to advance scalable and secure identity management.
- Dozens of core internet building block innovations through the NGI Zero Core fund, strengthening performance, decentralisation, and open source alternatives to proprietary systems.
These investments collectively contribute to a resilient and transparent digital ecosystem, supporting internet autonomy and privacy for developers and users alike.
Conclusion
The NLnet Foundation stands out as a long‑term champion of the open internet, decentralised technologies, and digital trust. By funding open source software, open standards, and community‑driven projects that enhance security and user control, NLnet continues to influence the evolution of the internet for the public good.
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