What does an accredited DNS.be registrar mean for you?
Written by Sam Serrien ·
GeNx recently became an accredited registrar with DNS Belgium. That sounds like administrative news, and to be fair, it partly is. Still, it changes how your .be domain is managed. In this article I explain what a registrar actually does, what you notice as a customer and when it is worth transferring your domain.
Who does what for a .be domain?
Every .be domain involves a few parties. Who plays which role is not always clear, especially if your domain was registered by a web agency years ago.[1]
| Role | Who | What do they do? |
|---|---|---|
| Registry | DNS Belgium | Runs the central database of all .be domains and sets the rules |
| Registrar | Companies with an agreement with DNS Belgium | Registers and manages domains for clients, directly in the DNS Belgium system |
| Reseller | For example web agencies and hosting companies | Resells domains, but registers them through a registrar |
| Domain holder | You, or your company | Holds the domain, with the right to use and transfer it |
How many registrars are there?
According to the DNS Belgium annual report, the organisation works with 350 registrars for .be.[2] So plenty of companies sell .be domains without being a registrar themselves.
What makes a registrar "accredited"?
A registrar signs an agreement with DNS Belgium, which gives it the right to register and manage .be domains for its clients. That comes with conditions: a contract, a prepayment and a minimum number of registrations per year.[3]
An important detail: a registrar remains responsible for the domains that resellers sell through it.[1] A reseller is always an extra link between you and DNS Belgium.
What do you notice?
To be honest: nothing changes about the domain itself. A .be is a .be, no matter who registers it. The difference is in the service and in the chain of parties involved.
Through an accredited registrar
- Changes are made directly in the DNS Belgium system
- One point of contact for domain, DNS, email and hosting
- Clear responsibility when something goes wrong
Things to watch with a middleman
- Every change passes through an extra party
- When problems arise, it is not always clear who is responsible
- If the middleman stops, you still have to move your domain
That does not mean resellers do a bad job. Many web agencies handle domains perfectly well. But the more links in the chain, the bigger the chance that a renewal email or a transfer code gets stuck somewhere.
Do you know where your domain is registered?
Many businesses do not know through whom their domain was registered. Look up your domain in the DNS Belgium WHOIS: it shows which registrar manages your domain.
You stay the holder, so check it
Whichever registrar you choose, one thing matters more than anything else: that your company is registered as the domain holder, with an email address you control yourself.
Why? Because DNS Belgium always sends a transfer code to the domain holder's email address.[4] If that is still the address of a former employee, or of the agency that built your site ten years ago, you cannot simply move your own domain.
Watch out
Is your web agency or a former employee registered as the holder? Have it changed as soon as possible. It is a small job now, and a big problem when you need it.
Transferring your domain: how does it work?
Moving a .be domain to another registrar is simpler than many people think:
- As the holder, you request a transfer code on the DNS Belgium website, or through your current or new registrar
- DNS Belgium sends the code to the domain holder's email address. The code is valid for 7 days
- The new registrar starts the transfer with that code. It is carried out immediately and usually completes within a few hours
- A transfer starts a new one-year registration period. Whatever you already paid your previous provider is not refunded
The real work is in the preparation: making sure all your DNS records (website, email, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are ready at your new provider beforehand. Otherwise your email stops working the moment the transfer happens. Read how we handle that on our page about transferring your domain.
Sources
- [1]Registry, registrar and registrant (DNS Belgium). Explains the roles of DNS Belgium, registrars, resellers and domain holders.
- [2]Annual report 2025 (DNS Belgium). For .be, DNS Belgium works with 350 registrars.
- [3]Become a registrar (DNS Belgium). Requirements to become a registrar, including a contract, a prepayment and a yearly minimum number of registrations.
- [4]Transfer code (DNS Belgium). How to request a transfer code and how long it stays valid.
- [5]Terms and conditions for .be domain names (DNS Belgium, version 6.2). Includes the rules on transfers and the new registration period.
Frequently asked questions
Your .be domain with an accredited registrar?
We review your current setup and handle the transfer, including your DNS settings and email.
How to transfer your domain