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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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Sponsorship

Because we see ourselves as part of the community, we want to help build a better digital society. We therefore sponsor organisations and projects that promote digital skills, counter the internet's negative side-effects or contribute to internet-related innovation. We also make a personal sponsorship budget of €500 available to everyone that works here. Each person can use the money to support a good cause that they care about.

Some of the organisations that we support are described below.

Alert Online

Alert Online is an annual campaign that aims to increase knowledge about online security. Most users recognise the risks that go with the internet. But the ins and outs of avoiding problems are another matter. Alert Online is for everyone that uses the internet, from children to grandparents; from the shop floor to the boardroom. The campaign runs for several weeks in the last quarter of the year. It is a joint initiative by the government, the business community and the scientific community.

Bits of Freedom

Bits of Freedom works to promote freedom and privacy on the internet. Freedom and privacy are fundamental rights, and essential for development, technological innovation and the rule of law. However, those rights are not assured. Huge volumes of data are stored and analysed. Bits of Freedom fights for an internet that is open for everyone, where private communication remains private. That goal is closely aligned with our own mission.

DINL

Stichting Digitale Infrastructuur Nederland is dedicated to helping the Netherlands remain a leading digital infrastructure hub. DINL represents the companies and organisations that supply the facilities on which the digital economy is based – data centres, hosting service providers, internet service providers and others.

ECP

ECP Platform voor de InformatieSamenleving is a neutral platform, through which the business community, the government and NGOs work together to promote the use of ICT in Dutch society. We are one of ECP's partners and a long-time sponsor of ECP's annual congress, and in 2020, for the first time, the ECP annual festival.

ISOC

The Internet Society has 44,000 members in 170 different countries. Many are internet professionals who have been involved with the internet since it was in its infancy. ISOC helps members to work together to improve the internet and the technologies related to it. It is the parent organisation for various international bodies, including:

  • The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)

  • The Interactive Advertising bureau (IAB)

  • The Internet Research Task Force (IRTF)

In the Netherlands, ISOC.nl has about a thousand members from the internet industry, the business community, the government and other sectors.

Dutch Cloud Community

In January 2021, the Dutch Cloud Community (DCC) was formed from the merger of ISPConnect and DHPA, the two trade associations for the Dutch hosting, cloud and internet sector. More than 100 prominent companies are affiliated with DCC. Together they represent the digital infrastructure sector. Many members are also .nl registrar. We think it is important that there is a good trade association and that is why we support the work of Dutch Cloud Community. We believe it's important for the internet industry to have an effective trade association, so we are pleased to support the work of the Dutch Cloud Community .

Reporting Hotline for Internet Child Pornography

The Reporting Hotline for Internet Child Pornography is an organisation that works to tackle the distribution of child pornography on the internet. Supported by the Ministry of Security and Justice and the European Commission, the foundation is the only organisation in the Netherlands active in this area, other than the police. We believe that the best way to tackle internet child pornography is through cooperation. It is very important that the police, the government, children's organisations, internet service providers and others work together on this issue.

NLIGF

Within the Dutch Internet Governance Forum (NLIGF), we work with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Platform voor de InformatieSamenleving (ECP). Together, we see that the conclusions of the international Internet Governance Forum are translated into national policy. We also make sure that the Netherlands has a voice in international discussions and that things that matter to the Netherlands are considered by the IGF.

NLnet Labs

NLnet Labs develops open-source software and open standards for a better internet. The organisation believes that it is only through cultural and technological openness that the network can contribute to welfare and prosperity. NLnet Labs was set up in 1999 by the NLnet foundation.

Internet Security Platform

The Internet Security Platform is a collaboration between the Dutch government and various market players. Its aim is to improve internet security. Along with internet child pornography, key issues addressed include phishing and the balance between crime prevention and privacy.

Summer School on Internet Governance

The Summer School on Internet Governance organises seminars on various aspects of internet governance. It caters for students, academics and people working in the public and private sectors. We sponsor the annual European Summer School on Internet Governance. We regularly deliver lectures at the summer school as well.

Veiliginternetten.nl

Veiliginternetten.nl is a website where people can get tips, information and practical advice about staying safe on line. There's guidance on using wi-fi, the dos and don'ts of social media and advice on teaching children to stay safe on line. The website is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, the National Cybersecurity Centre, ECP and the business community.