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Frequently asked questions

  • I am looking for a domain name registrant. Where can I look it up?

    The Whois is an easy-to-use tool for checking the availability of a .nl domain name. If the domain name is already taken, you can see who has registered it.

    On the page looking up a domain name you will find more information about what a domain name is, how the Whois works and how the privacy of personal data is protected. Alternatively, you can go straight to look for a domain name via the Whois.

  • I would like to transfer my domain name to another registrar. What is the procedure?

    To get your domain name transferred, you need the token (unique ID number) for your domain name. Your existing registrar has the token and is obliged to give it to you within five days, if you ask for it. The procedure for changing your registrar is described on the page transferring your domain name.

  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date. How can I get them updated?

    To update the contact details associated with your domain name, you need to contact your registrar. Read more about updating contact details.

  • Why is my domain name in quarantine?

    When a domain name is cancelled, we aren't told the reason, so we can't tell you. You'll need to ask your registrar. The advantage of quarantine is that, if a name's cancelled by mistake, you can always get it back.

    One common reason is that the contract between you and your registrar says you've got to renew the registration every year. If you haven't set up automatic renewal and you don't renew manually, the registration will expire.

  • Ik heb een klacht over mijn provider/registrar. Kan ik daarvoor bij SIDN terecht?

    Wanneer je een klacht hebt over of een geschil met je registrar dan zijn er verschillende mogelijkheden om tot een oplossing te komen. Hierover lees je meer op pagina klacht over registrar. SIDN heeft geen formele klachtenprocedure voor het behandelen van een klacht over jouw registrar.

  • What conditions do I have to meet as a registrar?

    Would you like to be able to register domain names for customers or for your own organisation by dealing directly with SIDN? If so, you can become a .nl registrar. Read more about the conditions and how to apply for registrar status on the page becoming a registrar.

More frequently asked questions

Piet Beertema

Piet Beertema is a Dutch internet pioneer and the founder of .nl.

Piet Beertema founder of .nl

Piet Beertema is a Dutch internet pioneer, who first came across a computer at the National Aerospace Laboratory. In 1966, he took up the post of System Manager at Mathematics Centre (MC), which became Research institute matematics & computer science in the Netherlands (CWI) in 1983, where he continued to work until his retirement. On 25 April 1986, administrative control of the newly created .nl domain was delegated to the CWI (in the person of Beertema) by Jon Postel (IANA). Thus, Beertema effectively became the founder of .nl.

On 31 January 1996, together with Boudewijn Nederkoorn and Ted Lindgreen, Beertema established SIDN (the Foundation for Internet Domain Registration in the Netherlands) and took a seat on the new organisation's board. In 1999, he became a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (an honorary title awarded to prominent scientists and others). On 14 July 2011 he laid the final ceremonial brick of SIDN's new office complex.

Piet is now a special advisor to the SIDN's Executive Board.

First European e-mail via internet

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