The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers
The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers
The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers, commonly stylized as TOOOL or Toool, is an international group of lockpicking enthusiasts dedicated to advancing the general public knowledge about locks and lockpicking through teaching, research, and competition. Founded in the Netherlands in 2002, TOOOL now has branches in the USA, UK, Belgium, Norway, Australia, and Canada. Each branch of TOOOL is a separate legal entity that operates autonomously from TOOOL NL.
History
Toool Netherlands (NL) was founded in 2002 in Amsterdam as a successor to the first Dutch lockpicking group founded in 1997. In 2006, a local chapter in Eindhoven was founded. From 2015-2017, a Groningen chapter existed. Toool Netherlands is the second oldest lockpicking sports club in the world, second to Germany's SSD e.V. Toool NL runs the annual LockCon conference and competitions, currently held in Baarlo, NL.
The USA has a Toool US that was founded in 2005. TOOOL in the United States is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with Chapters in more than 20 states, including affiliated Chapters in Canada. Toool US runs the annual LockFest conference in Seattle, WA as well as lockpicking villages at various information security conferences, notably Defcon in Las Vegas.
In the UK, a Toool UK was founded in 2014.
In Belgium, a Toool BE was founded in 2015.
In Norway, a Toool NO will be founded soon.
In Australia, a Toool AU was founded in 2018.
