Chose your color

Frequently visited

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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

What we do

We manage the registration of .nl domain names. But that's not all we do: we share our knowledge, we support initiatives that contribute to building a better internet and we develop new cybersecurity and online identity services.

Watch our story

Screenshot from corporate video SIDN

We ensure the stability of the .nl domain

If you type a domain name into your browser, we make sure that you are directed to the right website. If you send an e-mail, we make sure that it's delivered to the right mailbox. And it's thanks to us that the .nl domain is stable. We register .nl domain names and make it possible to reach the 6-million-plus registered domain names on the internet. Every day, our systems process more than 2.5 billion search queries.

We share our expertise…

We are a major player on the global internet, managing one of the biggest and most successful country-code domains in the world. The knowledge that we have acquired down the years is used to provide added value for secure digital living. That includes knowledge about fields such as internet governance, internet security and the functional stability of .nl. We also have a wealth of data about .nl, which provides insight into the use of .nl domain names.

…and give advice

We use our knowledge to provide advice on the technical, legal and policy issues associated with domain names and the domain name infrastructure. We advise:

  • Politicians and administrators

  • People and organisations seeking to improve the internet

What's more, we actively represent the Dutch internet community within international forums, such as ICANN, CENTR, RIPE NCC, IETF and IGF.

We support worthwhile internet initiatives

We support organisations and projects that seek to promote use of the internet or to counter its negative side-effects. We pursue those aims both as a knowledge partner and as a sponsor. Supported initiatives include the Platform for Internet Security, the Reporting Hotline for Internet Child Pornography and Bits of Freedom. Read more about our sponsorship activities.

Other examples of our support:

SIDN Fund supports projects that make the internet stronger

In 2014, we set up an independent foundation: SIDN Fund. Its mission: to make the internet stronger for everyone. In line with that mission, SIDN Fund supports a variety of projects. Read more about SIDN Fund or visit the SIDN Fund website.

We develop new services

SIDN is a dynamic organisation. We aim to use our knowledge and experience as a leading registry to provide additional services:

  • We provide registry services for other top-level domains, including .aw (Aruba's domain) and .amsterdam.

  • We give advice on topics such as internet security and stability, internet statistics and internet governance and policy.

  • We develop new cybersecurity services that help make the internet more secure, like SIDN BrandGuard

Our milestones Sponsorship What we stand for