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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Comprehensive IPv6 FAQs published

All you need to know about IPv6 in one place

  • Tuesday 17 May 2022

We've recently published a (very) comprehensive FAQ resource devoted to IPv6. It contains extensive information about the importance of IPv6, the current situation, common misconceptions, and why it's important that we all actually start using IPv6.

In the section that deals with technical questions, we look closely at the IPv6 address space, consider address structures and explain which addresses you can or must use for certain purposes.

After that, we go through all the available transition mechanisms. We tell you which mechanisms are still suitable for use when implementing IPv6 on a network.

In the final section, we provide IPv6 implementation advice tailored to the particular needs of three groups: network and system operators, internet users and small/SOHO network operators.

Promoting IPv6 adoption

Our new FAQ resource is intended to support the further rollout of IPv6 in the Netherlands. We work to encourage adoption in partnership with the Forum for Standardisation and the Platform for Internet Standards.

For example, in summer 2017, we introduced an incentive scheme, under which registrars get discounts on IPv6-enabled domain name registrations. The scheme was set up to help tip the balance in favour of investment in IPv6.

In 2019, we linked up with the Registrars' Association to organise three IPv6 workshops under the banner of the SIDN Academy. Each workshop lasted a full day and provided registrars with an excellent opportunity to hone their IPv6 expertise. A new round of workshops is taking place in June. Visit our website to register.

This year, we're also producing two e-learning modules about IPv6. The first is already available for registrars to use, free of charge. Our IPv6 FAQ resource covers a lot of the same ground as the e-learning modules. Although the FAQ material is intended to help you find answers to particular questions, it's also written in a way that means you could simply read it through from start to finish if you want to get the full picture.

Feedback is of course welcome.

Modern internet standards

IPv6 is by no means the only modern internet standard we push. We also promote DNSSEC, STARTTLS/DANE, and SPF, DKIM and DMARC. For NTP/NTS [1, 2, 3] we've even set up our own (experimental) public service [1, 2]. Later this year, we plan to add an e-learning module on DNSSEC to the SIDN Academy portfolio.

For anyone who finds their head spinning when they try to figure out where to begin, we've developed a maturity model, in which the main internet standards are presented in a matrix. Our handy overview of how the standards relate to one another, the interdependencies and the relative priorities can help you develop a roadmap for the modernisation of your internet infrastructure.