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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Four good reasons why your website should have an SSL certificate

Also known as TLS, a certificate or the green padlock, SSL makes websites more secure. But how does it actually work? And what form of SSL is best for your website?

SSL is the popular name for the TLS protocol, which is used to keep internet traffic secure. In the Netherlands, there are about 3.5 million unique .nl websites. Of those, a little more than half a million (42.8 per cent) have SSL certificates -- although all webshops and business websites should probably be using SSL. In other words, there is plenty of room for improvement. Various types of SSL certificate are available. So which is best for your site?

Various types of SSL

There are three types of SSL certificate. They differ in terms of data verification, or the validation method used when the certificate is issued. The more thorough the issue validation method, the more information the SSL certificate contains.

1. SSL makes the internet more secure

SSL is a protocol for data encryption, where a 'certificate' is used to link your organisation's details to the encryption key. That makes it almost impossible for cybercriminals to get hold of your visitors' data. Data security is the overriding reason for using an SSL certificate. It shows that you care about your site's security and your visitors' privacy.

2. SSL is mandatory for many websites

If your website obtains personal data from visitors, the use of SSL may be mandatory for you. Even having something as simple as a form that visitors can use to ask for information counts as obtaining personal data. And it's not the case that operating exclusively in the business-to-business market automatically means you don't handle personal data: a contact person's name is a form of personal data, for example. And, as a website operator, you have a responsibility to secure the transmission of that data. An SSL certificate helps you ensure that visitors have the privacy that the law demands. And it's never been more important to protect your visitors' privacy: under the new the General Data Protection Regulation, you can face a heavy fine if your security isn't up to scratch.

3. SSL makes you more findable

For some years, a (valid) SSL certificate has boosted a site's ranking in Google's search results. Google doesn't take account of the type of SSL certificate. However, to get the ranking boost, SSL needs to be used for the whole website. It's not good enough to secure just your checkout page, for example. Being higher in Google's results will increase traffic to your website and therefore your potential income. Certification is therefore a win-win strategy. What's more, starting in July 2018, Google's Chrome browser will label websites without SSL certificates as 'insecure'. At the moment, Chrome puts an 'i' icon in the address bar when you visit a site without a certificate. From July 2018, that will probably be replaced by the red 'Insecure' warning triangle.

4. There's a suitable type of SSL for every site

There are three types of SSL certificate. They differ in terms of data verification, or the validation method used when the certificate is issued. The more thorough the issue validation method, the more information the SSL certificate contains.

Domain validation (DV)

A domain SSL certificate confirms only the identity of the domain's registrant. The registrant's details are checked against the Whois data recorded for the domain name. Because the identity of the associated company isn't verified, a domain SSL certificate is appropriate mainly where data needs to be sent securely, but the identity of the website is less important.

Organisation validation (OV)

An organisation SSL certificate confirms both the domain registrant's identity and the identity of the associated company, as verified with the Chamber of Commerce. The certificate enables website visitors to view the relevant details.

Extended validation (EV)

An extended validation certificate incorporates full details of the company, as verified by detailed cross-referencing with the Chamber of Commerce. The applicant has to provide full company details and show that they really are acting for the company in question. It's only with an extended validation SSL certificate that both the company name and the green padlock icon appear in a browser's address bar. And it's that combination that inspires real consumer confidence.

Domain validation

Organisation validation

Extended validation

Green adress bar

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X

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Secure connection

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Higher in Google

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Registrant verification

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Organisation details in certificate

X

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Organisation details validated with Chamber of Commerce

X

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Applicant verificatio

X

X

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Extra security mobile support

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Type website

Non-public websites (e.g. intranet sites)

public websites

Webshops, Banks, Commercial websites

Any questions?

If you're one of the many people who are daunted by the technical ins and outs of SSL, don't worry. Your hosting service provider or registrar will be happy to advise. Please contact your registrar for more information. Want to check whether your site's secure right now? Do the test on internet.nl