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Frequently visited

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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

"Devoting time to SIDN is very worthwhile"

Lokke Moerel succeeds Peter van Schelven on our Supervisory Board

  • Thursday 25 February 2021

Every supervisory board needs a member with legal expertise. For some years, Peter van Schelven has been the person to bring that specialist knowledge to our Supervisory Board. But Peter has now completed the maximum term allowed by our constitution. Lokke Moerel has therefore been recruited to take his place. "It's an honour to help an organisation with such a pivotal role in society."

After nine years, Peter, how do you look back on your time on the Supervisory Board?

Peter van Schelven, member of the SIDN Supervisory Board

Van Schelven: "With a lot of pride. It was my first supervisory role. As a Supervisory Board member, you have to keep a bit of distance, and resist any temptation to put yourself in the CEO's shoes. The Board's task is essentially to define the parameters within which the executives can operate. I enjoyed taking on that challenge. And, fortunately, I've never had reason to lie awake at night fretting about the way things were going at SIDN. The organisation has a highly motivated workforce and is financially very sound. CEO Roelof Meijer has built a good, solid organisation. It's also been a pleasure working with the diverse and friendly group of people who make up the Supervisory Board. It's a proper team with an open culture, whose members all respect each other."

How did you come to join SIDN's Supervisory Board, Lokke?

Moerel: "Peter approached me and asked whether I might be interested. We go back a long time. Down the years, we've shared congress platforms, done industry workshops together and sat on the same arbitration boards. So, because it was Peter who asked, I knew the role was something I should consider. I get approached about similar positions quite often, and certainly don't say 'yes' to them all. But Peter told me that he'd really enjoyed his time with SIDN. And, when I spoke to some other Board members, I was inspired. We clicked immediately. Another factor was that I was already familiar with SIDN. I've witnessed the birth and development of the internet first hand. I remember getting my first PC, and how we only used e-mail internally back then – sending e-mail to outsiders was considered inappropriate! I learned early on what domain names were, what ICANN did, and how important SIDN was for the Dutch internet. Being asked to help an organisation with such a pivotal role in society is an honour. Devoting time to SIDN is very worthwhile."

Van Schelven: "I sometimes think that, here in the Netherlands, we forget how exceptional SIDN is. During my time on the Supervisory Board, I've attended several ICANN sessions, and it's fantastic to see close up just what an influential role SIDN plays in the global internet community. The .nl zone is one of the most secure in the world, and SIDN is a lead player in all sorts of fields. Its activities command worldwide respect."

Portrait of Lokke Moerel
Lokke Moerel, member of SIDN's Supervisory Board

What makes Lokke Moerel the right person for this role, Peter?

Van Schelven: "The Supervisory Board needs someone with a legal background. I've been working in ICT and the law for thirty-five years, so I know everyone who's active in the field. And Lokke is one of the best. She's got a good network, she sits on the Cyber Security Council, she's got a strong academic reputation and she's simply a very nice person. On top of which, she's someone with a broad societal outlook, someone who looks beyond the boundaries of her own discipline."

What does each of you see as the main challenges for the years ahead?

Van Schelven: "Diversification remains an issue. The creation of SIDN Fund was one of the main events in SIDN's history. A private organisation concerning itself with the public good is quite unusual, and something to be proud of. But what new activities does SIDN want – and have the skill set – to embrace? Where can it make a difference? There are no easy answers. But decision-making in that area is certainly something that the Supervisory Board can have a positive influence on."

Moerel: "SIDN's primary role is operating the .nl zone. Consequently, SIDN is strongly focused on security and protection. That focus can make it difficult to look ahead. However, when you consider how the world is changing and how dependent our digital society is on a smooth-running internet, it's clear that looking ahead is vital. If the internet stays as it is, we're going to end up in a mess. Change is essential. SIDN is one of the few independent voices on this topic in the Netherlands. And I'd like it to become a more prominent voice. As an independent institute, SIDN can play an influential role in the debate about the internet of the future. The work that SIDN Labs is doing has great potential in that regard. If I can make my own small contribution in that area, I'll be very pleased."