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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Brands and regions: the dotamazon case

Retailer versus region

So-called 'brand TLDs' -- domain name extensions based on brand names -- were first enabled in 2012. And another brand TLD application window is expected in the near future. Most companies that apply have little difficulty getting their brand names accepted as internet extensions; those names are, after all, their property. But what if your brand shares its name with a geographical region?

Brands and domain names: the Coolblue case

That's the crux of the dispute over 'dotamazon', the brand TLD sought by the US retailer with the same name as the South American region. For some years now, the company has been at loggerheads with the governments of Amazonian countries, who argue that the internet giant shouldn't be allowed to register .amazon.

Everything began smoothly

The dispute has been running since 2012, when an application to create .amazon was submitted. The application was initially approved, as 'Amazon' wasn't considered to be a geographical name. So approval wasn't sought from the governments of Brazil and Peru. Proponents of brand TLDs were pleased to see .amazon get the green light, thinking that its creation would help to promote the idea of extensions based on brand names.

Consent for registration withheld

A year later, however, the Brazilian government stepped in. As far as it was concerned, 'Amazon' was indeed the name of a geographical region, and the Brazilians weren't inclined to let anyone else claim it. Their motivation was partly political: relations between Brazil and the US had been dented by the Edward Snowden scandal, and Amazon was synonymous with 'big business' in many politicians' minds.

Geopolitical game

Amazon responded by lodging an appeal. In 2017, an independent committee ruled in the company's favour and called on ICANN to review its decision. However, the application was refused a second time, despite support from the US government. Increasingly, the wrangle began to look like a geopolitical power game, in which intergovernmental relations took precedence over the applicant's rights.

Amicable settlements are possible

Name clashes don't have to result in confrontation, though. Take the case of German travel company TUI. Like Amazon, TUI met opposition when it applied to create .tui in 2012. The reason: Tui is also the name of a province in Burkina Faso. TUI's response was to send a delegation to the west-African country, resulting in a negotiated settlement.

Stalemate

Within ICANN, discussions about .amazon appear to have reached a stalemate. No one appears willing to concede any ground. ICANN has now given the two sides one month to find a solution. If they don't, neither of them will get the extension. And that, of course, means that no one gets to use .amazon. Neither the company, nor the region. 

Want to know more about brand TLDs?

Interested in the opportunities that a brand TLD can offer? We'd love to talk them over with you. Just drop a line to marketing@sidn.nl.

Article by:

Michiel Henneke

Michiel Henneke

Marketing Manager