VvR and eco are introducing their organizations to each other’s members because the challenges and opportunities in the domain name industry are increasingly shared across borders. In this joint interview, both associations explain who they are, why this connection matters, and how members can benefit from closer cooperation.
1) For members who may not know the other organization yet: how would you describe your association?
VvR: The Association of Registrars (De Vereniging van Registrars, VvR) is the trade association for registrars in the Netherlands with 650+ members representing more than 95% of all .nl domain names. We represent the interests of registrars, work closely with SIDN, the registry for the Dutch country-code top-level domain .nl, and focus on practical issues such as policy, security, compliance, knowledge sharing, and networking. Our role is to ensure that the voice of registrars is heard where decisions are made and to help our members stay well informed, well connected, and well prepared for developments in the market.
eco: eco – Association of the Internet Industry is a leading trade association for providers of digital infrastructures in Europe, with around 1,000 member organizations worldwide. Within eco, the Names & Numbers working group brings together more than 140 companies from across the domain name industry. eco promotes exchange through industry initiatives, events, and policy engagement at both German and EU level. Together, eco members manage more than 70% of all domain names globally, making the Names & Numbers working group one of the largest advocacy platforms for the domain name industry. For nearly five years, eco has also been driving the topDNS initiative, which promotes cross-industry collaboration to combat DNS abuse and is also supported by the VvR.
2) Why does it make sense for VvR and eco to introduce each other to their members?
VvR: Our members - 95% national and 5% international - operate in a market that is national in execution but increasingly international in context. Many of the issues that affect registrars today - regulation, compliance, abuse mitigation, technical standards, and market developments - do not stop at national borders. Getting closer to eco gives our members access to a wider European industry network and to discussions that are highly relevant for the future of the domain name ecosystem.
eco: For eco and its members, the connection with VvR is especially valuable because the Dutch registrar community is highly organized, innovative, and strongly rooted in operational practice. VvR is deeply involved in maintaining the quality and resilience of the .nl domain ecosystem, and its close engagement with SIDN - itself an eco member - makes it a particularly relevant partner for exchange on issues that matter across Europe. More broadly, the Dutch Internet industry is often ahead of the curve in the adoption of standards such as DNSSEC and has also played a leading role in developing practical industry best practices, especially in the prevention and mitigation of online abuse and harm.
3) What is the benefit of VvR being an eco member for your members in practical terms?
VvR: For VvR members, eco membership means broader access: more perspectives, more peer exchange, and more opportunities to learn from companies and experts beyond the Dutch market. It can help members compare approaches, spot trends earlier, and build relationships with organizations active in domains, hosting, infrastructure, security, and digital policy.
eco: For eco members, VvR being an eco member opens the door to one of Europe’s most relevant and well-organized communities of registrars and Internet infrastructure providers. It creates a direct link to the Dutch market and to professionals with extensive hands-on experience in registrar operations, sector coordination, and cooperation on quality, security, and implementation. This includes the topDNS Abuse Reports and eco's presence on the international stage (ICANN, Nordic Domain Days). This kind of practical exchange is particularly valuable not only in translating policy ambitions into operational reality, but also in helping policymakers shape legislative initiatives that are both effective and workable in practice.
4) On which topics do you expect members to benefit first from this relationship?
VvR: We expect the first benefits to appear in areas where members are already actively looking for insight and cooperation: DNS abuse, security and compliance, regulatory developments, and the exchange of operational best practices. These are topics where no single company or national market has all the answers, so stronger cross-border dialogue is genuinely useful.
eco: We see immediate value in connecting members around Names & Numbers topics, especially abuse mitigation, DNS security, industry coordination, and the practical impact of European and national rules. eco already convenes companies in this space through its Names & Numbers work and the topDNS initiative, so adding closer ties with VvR should make those conversations even more concrete and relevant.
5) What would success look like one year from now?
VvR: Success would mean that our members no longer see this as just an introduction between two associations, but as a useful working relationship. We would like to see members attending each other’s events, sharing expertise, comparing approaches, and making practical use of a stronger European network.
eco: For us, success would mean real member-to-member exchange: new contacts, better insight into shared challenges, and more cooperation on topics that affect the resilience and future of the domain name ecosystem. If members on both sides feel better connected, better informed, and better represented, then the partnership is delivering exactly what it should.
