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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Constitution and Articles of Association amended

New versions effective since 29 July 2024

Man examines terms on paper with a magnifying glass
  • Monday 9 September 2024

SIDN's Constitution and the Articles of Association of its subsidiary companies have been amended. Most of the changes are legal technicalities, intended to improve alignment with the new Management and Supervision of Legal Entities Act. A small number of substantive changes have been made as well. However, the purpose and objectives of SIDN and its subsidiaries remain exactly as before, and the rights of .nl registrars are entirely unchanged. Details of the changes are given below.

Relevant substantive changes

Constitution of the Foundation for Internet Domain Registration in the Netherlands

  1. The Constitution now states that SIDN's Executive Board must have at least 2 members, but no more than 3 (Article 15, clause 1).

  2. The Constitution now states that SIDN must have a remuneration policy for Executive Board members, defined by the Supervisory Board (article 16).

  3. The rules on conflicts of interest involving Supervisory Board members and Executive Board members have been tightened up (article 9, clauses 6, 14 and 17).

  4. The rules on Executive Board decisions that require prior approval by the Supervisory Board have been amended. The Constitution now includes a general provision giving the Supervisory Board the power to stipulate the types of decision that require such approval (article 21). Inclusion of the more flexible provision means that it's no longer necessary for the types of decision to be listed in the Constitution itself. The list (which had been extended by a previous amendment) has therefore been removed from the Constitution and included in the new Standing Orders of the Executive Board.

  5. The list of circumstances under which membership of the Executive Board will end has been extended (Article 22).

  6. The rules on the terms of office of Supervisory Board members have been changed to allow a member to continue for up to 2 years beyond the normal maximum term of office, if the circumstances are exceptional and compelling reasons exist. Many organisations' constitutions include such provisions, which are used only in exceptional cases. Since the new Constitution took effect, 2 of SIDN's Supervisory Board members' terms of office have been extended under the new rule, by 1 year and 2 years, respectively. The Supervisory Board feared that it would otherwise lose an unsupportable amount of experience and historical knowledge.

View the Constitution of the Foundation for Internet Domain Registration in the Netherlands

Articles of Association of SIDN BV and other subsidiaries

The Articles of Association of the subsidiary companies owned by the Foundation have been fully aligned so that all the companies are covered by identical rules. Various points have also been amended to increase flexibility. Some provisions of the Articles of Association have been extended so that the wording more closely matches that of the Management and Supervision of Legal Entities Act. The intention of such changes is to ensure that the relevant provisions remain valid under the new law.

One substantive change has also been made. As with the Foundation's Constitution, the list of types of decision that require the prior approval of the shareholders has been removed from the Articles of Association and included in the Standing Orders of each company's Executive Board. The lists are identical in all cases. The practical implication of the change is that no SIDN executive at the Foundation or at a subsidiary company can take any of the specified types of decision without the direct or indirect approval of the Foundation's Supervisory Board.

View the Articles of Association of SIDN BV