# Stefan Van Damme

> Belgian Developer

**Wikidata**: [Q61685976](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61685976)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/stefan-van-damme

## Summary
Stefan Van Damme is a Belgian programmer and software engineer, best known as the owner and developer of the browser extension "Turn Off the Lights." Operating under the alias "Stefan vd," he creates software designed to enhance the user viewing experience. He is recognized for his contributions to web browser accessibility and utilities.

## Biography
*   **Nationality:** Belgium
*   **Known for:** Owner of "Turn Off the Lights"; software development
*   **Field(s):** Software Engineering, Programming
*   **Languages:** English, Dutch
*   **Aliases:** Stefan vd

## Contributions
Stefan Van Damme is the owner and developer of **Turn Off the Lights**, a popular browser extension available for major platforms. The software is designed to fade the page background to dark while highlighting the video player, allowing users to watch videos as if they were in a cinema. This tool has garnered significant attention, referenced by both the extension's official site and the Mozilla Add-ons community.

Van Damme maintains an active development and support presence across multiple channels. He manages the official website (stefanvd.net) and maintains a GitHub profile under the username "stefanvd." His development work extends to mobile platforms, evidenced by an Apple App Store Developer ID (1043724055).

He has cultivated a substantial audience for his software tutorials and demonstrations. As of November 2025, his YouTube channel, which he started in November 2008, has accumulated over 2 million views and approximately 42,500 subscribers. The channel serves as a hub for user support and feature showcases for his software projects.

## FAQs

### Q: What is Stefan Van Damme best known for?
A: Stefan Van Damme is best known for creating and owning "Turn Off the Lights," a widely used browser extension that improves the video watching experience by dimming the rest of the web page.

### Q: What is Stefan Van Damme's nationality?
A: Stefan Van Damme is a Belgian citizen.

### Q: What online aliases does Stefan Van Damme use?
A: He frequently uses the alias "Stefan vd" on platforms such as Twitter, GitHub, and his personal website.

### Q: How large is Stefan Van Damme's online following?
A: As of late 2025, his YouTube channel has over 42,500 subscribers and his videos have been viewed more than 2 million times.

## Why They Matter
Stefan Van Damme represents a significant figure in the independent software development community, specifically within the ecosystem of browser extensions. By developing "Turn Off the Lights," he addressed a specific user interface desire—distraction-free video viewing—long before such features were standardized by some platform providers. His continued maintenance of the software across different browsers and operating systems demonstrates a commitment to interoperability and user accessibility.

His work bridges the gap between simple utility and enhanced user experience, impacting how millions of users consume video content on the web. Furthermore, his active engagement with his user base through YouTube and social media highlights the evolving role of the developer as both creator and community manager. His longevity in the field, with a YouTube presence spanning back to 2008, underscores a sustained relevance in the tech community.

## Notable For
*   **Creator of "Turn Off the Lights":** A prominent browser extension for video viewing.
*   **Long-standing Digital Presence:** Active on YouTube since 2008 with over 2 million views.
*   **Cross-Platform Development:** Presence on Firefox (Mozilla Add-ons), Chrome, and Apple App Store (Developer ID: 1043724055).
*   **Community Engagement:** Recognized by the Mozilla Add-ons blog for his work.

## Body

### Professional Identity
Stefan Van Damme is a software engineer and programmer based in Belgium. He operates professionally under the alias "Stefan vd." He speaks and writes in both English and Dutch. His technical classification aligns with practitioners who write computer software and engineer applications.

### Ownership and Projects
His primary commercial and developmental project is **Turn Off the Lights**. He is the confirmed owner of this project, which is detailed on his professional website and referenced by Mozilla.
*   **Website:** https://www.stefanvd.net
*   **App Store ID:** 1043724055

### Social Media and Reach
Van Damme maintains a robust social media footprint to support his software:
*   **YouTube:**
    *   **Handle:** stefanvandamme
    *   **Channel ID:** UC8Ne86mxckBrqSQfaTopP7A
    *   **Stats (as of Nov 2025):** Approximately 42,500 subscribers and 2,044,390 total video views.
    *   **Content:** 46 videos (as of Dec 2020).
*   **Twitter:**
    *   **Handle:** @Stefanvd
    *   **Activity:** User since November 30, 2016.
*   **GitHub:** Username `stefanvd`.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.stefanvd.net/about/stefan-van-damme)
2. [Source](https://www.turnoffthelights.com/aboutus.html)
3. [Source](https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2017/11/08/qa-developer-stefan-van-damme/)
4. YouTube API