Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is leiden.edu legit or a scam?
AboutUs doesn't label sites "legit" or "a scam": this page lists the dated registration, DNS, HTTPS, mail-authentication and safety checks we could verify, each with its source, so you can decide for yourself.
Who owns leiden.edu?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for leiden.edu. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
Lifeline · leiden.edu over time
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
On AboutUs since 2006 · one registrar since Jan 10, 2025 · no registrant change on record since 2009 · last checked Nov 11, 2026.
Registration
No registration date on file yet. AboutUs reads it from RDAP when the site is checked.
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageAboutUs wiki pageJun 20, 2006 – Nov 9, 2013An AboutUs wiki page described leiden.edu from Jun 20, 2006 to Nov 9, 2013 (3 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023Said about itself in 2006Jul 1, 2006“Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It was founded in February 1575, as a gift from William of Orange to the citizens of Leiden who had withstood a long siege by the Spaniards.”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Registrar
EducauseJan 10, 2025 – Mar 10, 2025 (latest)Registrar Educause (IANA 365) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for leiden.edu, from Jan 10, 2025 to Mar 10, 2025.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Registrant
Registrant recordsFeb 6, 2009 – Jun 29, 2026Registration records for leiden.edu are held from Feb 6, 2009 to Jun 29, 2026 (72 records). None shows a change of registrant. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
No registrant changes recorded, 2009–2026
Zone file
No nameserver records held, Sep 2011 – Nov 2012Nameservers: leidenuniv.nlFeb 6, 2009 – Sep 15, 2011Registration records listed leidenuniv.nl nameservers (sherlock.leidenuniv.nl, watson.leidenuniv.nl) for leiden.edu from Feb 6, 2009 to Sep 15, 2011.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Certificate
Hellenic Academic and Research Institutions CAHellenic Academic and Research Institutions CASep 3, 2025 – Nov 15, 2026 (latest)Hellenic Academic and Research Institutions CA issued 147 certificates for leiden.edu from Sep 3, 2025, the latest valid until Mar 10, 2027. Seen in use on Nov 11, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Nov 11, 2026
2010201520202025Apr ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (15)
Jun 20, 2006 – Nov 9, 2013AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described leiden.edu from Jun 20, 2006 to Nov 9, 2013 (3 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It was founded in February 1575, as a gift from William of Orange to the citizens of Leiden who had withstood a long siege by the Spaniards.”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Feb 6, 2009 – Jun 29, 2026Registrant: Registration records for leiden.edu are held from Feb 6, 2009 to Jun 29, 2026 (72 records). None shows a change of registrant. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Feb 6, 2009 – Sep 15, 2011Zone file: Registration records listed leidenuniv.nl nameservers (sherlock.leidenuniv.nl, watson.leidenuniv.nl) for leiden.edu from Feb 6, 2009 to Sep 15, 2011.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Nov 27, 2012 – Jul 21, 2021Zone file: Registration records listed leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nl nameservers (ns1.surfnet.nl, sherlock.leidenuniv.nl, watson.leidenuniv.nl) for leiden.edu from Nov 27, 2012 to Jul 21, 2021.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Current AboutUs record
Jun 22, 2026 – Nov 10, 2026 (latest)
Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 10, 2026.
Source: AboutUs checks
Nameservers: leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nl
Nameservers: leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nlNov 27, 2012 – Jul 21, 2021Registration records listed leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nl nameservers (ns1.surfnet.nl, sherlock.leidenuniv.nl, watson.leidenuniv.nl) for leiden.edu from Nov 27, 2012 to Jul 21, 2021.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nlNov 27, 2012leiden.edu's nameservers moved from leidenuniv.nl to leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nl at some point between Sep 15, 2011 and Nov 27, 2012. Last seen at leidenuniv.nl: Sep 15, 2011 (registration record). First seen at leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nl: Nov 27, 2012 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 14 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara)Sep 4, 2021 – Jul 3, 2023Registration records listed UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara) nameservers (edns5.ultradns.com, edns5.ultradns.org) for leiden.edu from Sep 4, 2021 to Jul 3, 2023.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara)Sep 4, 2021leiden.edu's nameservers moved from leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nl to UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara) between Jul 21, 2021 and Sep 4, 2021. Last seen at leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nl: Jul 21, 2021 (registration record). First seen at UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara): Sep 4, 2021 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: surfnet.nlNameservers: surfnet.nlOct 6, 2023 – Jun 29, 2026Registration records listed surfnet.nl nameservers (ns1.surfnet.nl, ns2.surfnet.nl, ns3.surfnet.nl) for leiden.edu from Oct 6, 2023 to Jun 29, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to surfnet.nlOct 6, 2023leiden.edu's nameservers moved from UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara) to surfnet.nl at some point between Jul 3, 2023 and Oct 6, 2023. Last seen at UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara): Jul 3, 2023 (registration record). First seen at surfnet.nl: Oct 6, 2023 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 3 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
ZeroSSL GmbHApr 7, 2026 – Jul 6, 2026ZeroSSL GmbH issued 1 certificate for leiden.edu from Apr 7, 2026, the latest valid until Jul 6, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Let's EncryptJun 11, 2026 – Nov 15, 2026Let's Encrypt issued 3 certificates for leiden.edu from Jun 11, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 8, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Nov 27, 2012Zone file: leiden.edu's nameservers moved from leidenuniv.nl to leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nl at some point between Sep 15, 2011 and Nov 27, 2012. Last seen at leidenuniv.nl: Sep 15, 2011 (registration record). First seen at leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nl: Nov 27, 2012 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 14 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Sep 4, 2021 – Jul 3, 2023Zone file: Registration records listed UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara) nameservers (edns5.ultradns.com, edns5.ultradns.org) for leiden.edu from Sep 4, 2021 to Jul 3, 2023.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Sep 4, 2021Zone file: leiden.edu's nameservers moved from leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nl to UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara) between Jul 21, 2021 and Sep 4, 2021. Last seen at leidenuniv.nl, surfnet.nl: Jul 21, 2021 (registration record). First seen at UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara): Sep 4, 2021 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Oct 6, 2023 – Jun 29, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed surfnet.nl nameservers (ns1.surfnet.nl, ns2.surfnet.nl, ns3.surfnet.nl) for leiden.edu from Oct 6, 2023 to Jun 29, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Oct 6, 2023Zone file: leiden.edu's nameservers moved from UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara) to surfnet.nl at some point between Jul 3, 2023 and Oct 6, 2023. Last seen at UltraDNS (Neustar/Vercara): Jul 3, 2023 (registration record). First seen at surfnet.nl: Oct 6, 2023 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 3 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Jan 10, 2025 – Mar 10, 2025Registrar: Registrar Educause (IANA 365) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for leiden.edu, from Jan 10, 2025 to Mar 10, 2025.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Sep 3, 2025 – Nov 15, 2026Certificate: Hellenic Academic and Research Institutions CA issued 147 certificates for leiden.edu from Sep 3, 2025, the latest valid until Mar 10, 2027. Seen in use on Nov 11, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Nov 11, 2026
Apr 7, 2026 – Jul 6, 2026Certificate: ZeroSSL GmbH issued 1 certificate for leiden.edu from Apr 7, 2026, the latest valid until Jul 6, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 11, 2026 – Nov 15, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt issued 3 certificates for leiden.edu from Jun 11, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 8, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 22, 2026 – Nov 10, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 10, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Its address redirects to www.universiteitleiden.nl, which answered over HTTPS
Leiden.edu
Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands.
We withhold an authority number until independent evidence (global rank, link-graph presence) has accrued. The facts we do have about this site are shown below — we'd rather say “not enough signals yet” than invent a low score.
Safety evidence
Retained threat-feed result (recorded about 4 days ago); name-similarity check available (recorded about 4 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 4 days ago). This is evidence coverage, not a probability that a website is safe.
No caution flags in the available scoring observations; this is not a complete safety assessment
What leiden.edu said about itself, 2006
Quoted from the site's AboutUs wiki page in each year it changed (1 version). These are the page's own words at the time, not AboutUs's assessment. New words · dropped words
2006
Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It was founded in February 1575, as a gift from William of Orange to the citizens of Leiden who had withstood a long siege by the Spaniards.
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date.