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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

“AI software boosts our creativity”

Jarno Duursma will be talking at SIDN Inspire about the future of synthetic media

  • Tuesday 25 April 2023

Once something new and unfamiliar, the internet is now an integral part of everyday life. For us, however, it remains as spellbinding as ever. Hence the theme of SIDN Inspire 2023: 'the internet is magic'. This year's event will be a purely physical gathering at Utrecht's Media Plaza on Thursday 25 May. The programme features a wide range of sessions and 2 inspiring speakers. One is Jarno Duursma, a technology expert and author of books on AI, who'll be describing how artificially intelligent software can boost creative processes. Various promising and potentially far-reaching developments will be examined as well.

The internet is magic

"I remember the rise of the internet well," says Jarno. "I thought that having almost immediate contact with people all over the world by mail or later by webcam was just magic. And, in recent years, the most magical developments have been in the field of artificial intelligence. It's not so long ago that the idea of generating an image from a written description was conceived. But now, thanks to AI software such as Dall-E, that idea is a reality."

Jarno inspires people to see the positive aspects of technological developments. He also wants people to recognise the opportunities and possibilities that AI software offers. At the same time, Jarno believes we need to be aware of the risks, because there are always people who'll misuse new technologies. "It's important to keep asking ourselves what constitutes responsible and appropriate use of technology," he says.

Using ChatGPT as a smart assistant

Since OpenAI's ChatGPT burst onto the scene, it's been clear that artificial intelligence is going to play a big role in our working and private lives. With its ability to answer questions in natural human language, ChatGPT can support our creative processes and boost our productivity. "In recent years, artificially intelligent software has been deployed to enhance or even take over more and more human skills," Jarno continues. "In my presentation, I'll be considering how AI software influences our creativity and imagination. The potential is there for AI software to elevate our creative and imaginative capabilities, or to cause us to neglect and lose our skills. If, for example, you always use ChatGPT to write summaries, lack of practice will lead to your own summarising skills declining."

In early March, OpenAI launched GPT-4: an improved foundation model for ChatGPT, which supports the use of both text and images as input. "GPT-4's capabilities are impressive," says Jarno. "It can give you its 'thoughts' on an image, for example. It can even recognise and explain humour in an image. Or suggest dishes you could cook from a bunch of ingredients in a photo. I'm confident that ChatGPT's impact on the world is going to be on a par with the iPhone's."

The rise of synthetic media

In his presentation, Jarno will describe the future that awaits us, a future in which synthetic media play a growing role. AI software could change the face of the music world, for example. "Technology has been enabling innovation in the music industry for many years," Jarno points out. "For example, in about 1990, there was the arrival of the synthesiser: a device capable of artificially generating electronic sounds. It's since been adopted for a wide range of genres, including techno, house, dance and electro. And now we have generative AI, which can create sounds and sound effects. So you type in a description of the sound you want, and the software creates it. It can even originate its own music. Having reached this tipping point, it's important not to lose sight of our own capabilities, while also recognising the added value of generative AI. For example, AI software can produce sounds quickly or generate electronic sounds, which we can't create ourselves. But those capabilities don't detract from music's human, emotional qualities. The relationship between artist and audience remains very important, especially where big stars and singer-songwriters are concerned." At SIDN Inspire, Jarno will explore the influence of synthetic media such as photos, videos, computer code, sounds and texts, and will consider the associated opportunities and risks.

"It's important that we think about the future and the possible effects of technological developments," he says. "If we want new technologies to make a positive contribution, we have to constantly reflect on ourselves and our actions, so that together we can keep building towards a better future."

Want to learn more about the synthetic revolution and see Jarno's presentation? Register for SIDN Inspire on 25 May 2023 at https://events.sidn.nl/sidn-inspire-2023/aanmelden.