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What is HackerHosting?

The internet once began as an open network where people could freely experiment, collaborate and share knowledge. Today, much of it has shifted toward a few large commercial platforms.

HackerHosting, an initiative by ProcoliX, offers an alternative: virtual servers for people who value open source, digital autonomy, privacy and technical freedom. The platform is aimed at the hacker community: people who want to understand technology, build things themselves and contribute to a more open internet.

In this blog, you'll learn what HackerHosting is and who it is intended for.

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Photo by Richard de Geus

Richard de Geus

Richard de Geus •

June 30, 2026

Hosting for people who want to stay in control

The name HackerHosting sometimes raises questions. It is explicitly not about cybercrime or bypassing rules. In its original meaning, a hacker is someone who is curious, who wants to understand systems and who uses technology creatively to solve problems.

HackerHosting is built for that type of user. For people who want to decide which software they run, how their infrastructure is set up and where their data is stored.

Who is HackerHosting for?

The service comes from the open source and hacker community. Many users are active in hackerspaces, Linux groups or open source projects. In practice, it is also relevant for anyone who shares these values.

For example:

What makes HackerHosting different?

Most hosting providers focus on scale, standardization and automation. That is efficient, but it often gives users little insight into what is happening under the hood.

HackerHosting deliberately takes a different approach: transparency and control are central. The infrastructure runs entirely on open source software and is hosted in Dutch data centers in the Netherlands. Capacity is not aggressively overcommitted, ensuring predictable and stable performance.

Open source is not a label here, but the foundation. It makes it possible to understand, audit and adapt systems when needed. This keeps knowledge accessible and prevents dependency on closed vendors. Privacy and autonomy are also key principles. Users retain full control over their environment: what software they run, how their setup is configured, and where their data is stored.

What can you do with it?

Because each user gets their own virtual machine, the possibilities are broad. Common use cases include:

For some users, HackerHosting is a playground for learning. For others, it forms the foundation of services used by hundreds or even thousands of people every day.

Why did ProcoliX create this?

HackerHosting was born out of a strong connection to the open source community. ProcoliX has been working with open standards, transparent infrastructure and sustainable IT solutions for years. From that background, the idea emerged to give something back to the community that shares the same values.

In addition, ProcoliX's anniversary provided a moment not only to look back, but to build something lasting: a hosting service aligned with the values of makers, hackers and open source developers.

Want to get started?

HackerHosting is designed as a practical way to work with open, flexible hosting. A place where you can build, experiment and set up your own server environment however you like.

Check out HackerHosting and start your own server environment.