Harold Douwes

Harold Douwes is a prominent figure in the web hosting industry, best known for his role as the Founder and CEO of Hostnet BV, a leading web hosting provider in the Netherlands.12

Career at Hostnet BV

Harold Douwes founded Hostnet BV in 1999 and served as its Owner and CEO for over 21 years, from January 1999 to April 2020.4 Under his leadership, Hostnet grew to become a highly regarded player in the Dutch hosting market, focusing on operational excellence and maintaining high brand awareness.23

Company Growth and Acquisition

During Douwes' tenure, Hostnet experienced significant growth:

• The company employed approximately 130 staff
• Served over 210,000 customers
• Focused on mass-hosting with a product suite targeting both non-technical and technical users
• Maintained a strong focus on customer service, achieving industry-leading satisfaction metrics3

In March 2020, Hostnet was acquired by one.com, a leading European provider of web hosting services. This acquisition was part of one.com's expansion strategy in the European market.23

Education and Background

Harold Douwes has a background in Business Economics from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.4 This educational foundation likely contributed to his success in building and managing Hostnet BV.

Professional Reputation

As the CEO of Hostnet, Douwes maintained a high approval rating of 90%, indicating strong leadership and management skills.1 His expertise in the hosting industry and business acumen made him a respected figure in the field.

While Harold Douwes is no longer actively involved with Hostnet BV following its acquisition, his legacy as the founder and long-time leader of the company remains significant in the Dutch web hosting industry.