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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Digital Services Act improves protection for platform users

SIDN Fund supports awareness campaign

Image from the Stay Loud campaign by Bits of Freedom
  • Monday 22 April 2024

On 1 January 2024, a new law came into effect in the EU. The Digital Services Act (DSA) requires online platforms to follow rules on disinformation, giving users additional rights and better protection. Although the Act is welcome, its practical value does depend partly on users knowing about their new rights. In the Netherlands, the Bits of Freedom foundation is therefore organising an awareness campaign under the slogan Blijf Luid! ('Stay Loud!'). The aim is to tell people about their entitlements and obligations, and to give them practical advice on using the new law. Bits of Freedom Policy Advisor Lotje Beek talks about the campaign and how it's helping people assert their rights on social media and on the internet more generally.

Digital Services Act

Portrait photo of Lotje Beek from Bits of Freedom
Lotje Beek, Policy Advisor at Bits of Freedom

Lotje: "With the Digital Services Act, the European Commission is regulating the activities of the 19 biggest platforms and search engines. A company can be fined up to 6 per cent of its annual turnover if it doesn't follow the rules. That means users have better protection. For example, they're entitled to more choice about what's included in their news feeds, it's easier to report harmful or illegal content, and, if their own ability to share content is restricted, the platform operator always has to justify that. But, of course, having more rights isn't very helpful unless people know about them. So we've started an awareness campaign to spread the word about the rights and obligations created by the Act."

Mieke van Heesewijk of SIDN Fund: "It's amazing how Bits of Freedom have translated all the legal ins and outs into useful information. The website Jouwplatformrechten.nl ('your platform rights') is particularly good. It uses clear, interactive material to explain platform users' new rights and give advice on resolving problems. Strengthening the ordinary citizen's position in the digital world is more than a nice goal to work towards. It's a vital part of making the internet safe and fair for everyone."

Awareness campaign

Lotje says that the campaign is aimed mainly at activist groups. "We decided to target the material at that audience, because they have particular difficulties with tech giants such as Apple, Google and Meta. Whereas we believe that the critical voices of community organisations and activists are important to a healthy democracy and shouldn't be suppressed."

Mieke van Heesewijk, Programme Manager at SIDN Fund

Campaign website

"One of the most important elements of the campaign is the website that we've launched at jouwplatformrechten.nl," continues Lotje. "On the site, we explain the new rights using an interactive approach, where we begin with the underlying problems and offer solutions. We've also produced a manifesto, which we're distributing online and offline. Activist groups are encouraged to sign the manifesto and to spread the word via social media. Other initiatives include giving out flyers at activist meeting points throughout the Netherlands and placing banner ads on websites that don't track users, such as news websites and local platforms like AT5. Hopefully, by using all those different channels, we'll be able to reach a wide audience and boost awareness of platform rights."

Support from SIDN Fund

Bits of Freedom's awareness campaign is supported by SIDN Fund. "Our project was funded through the Fund's Getting a Grip on Disinformation call," says Lotje. "As well as providing financial help, the Fund has been very flexible and willing to engage with our project. We were invited to various sessions where we met the organisers of other projects funded through the call and people who had run disinformation projects in the past. The sessions were really helpful and inspiring, because we were able to learn about the approaches and strategies used by others active in this field."

More great projects supported by SIDN Fund

Read more articles about projects that contribute to a stronger internet.