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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Domain name portfolio management more important than ever

New cybersecurity directive means stricter rules on registration data from 2024

Technology background with flag of the European Union
  • Tuesday 16 January 2024

At the end of 2022, the EU passed the second Network Information Security Directive, or NIS2. Member states have until the middle of October 2024 to translate the directive into national legislation. Crucially, a wide variety of organisations are designated 'important' or 'essential' under NIS2, meaning that they'll have to meet stricter network security requirements. Where domain name registrations are concerned, NIS2 goes even further. All organisations involved in the provision of registration services will be covered by the directive, which requires the validation of European registrants' registration data. Although only a small element of the directive, the registration data requirements have significant implications for organisations with large domain name portfolios. Having incorrect or outdated information linked to domain names could have adverse consequences.

NIS2: critical infrastructure security

The main feature of NIS2 is that member states must legislate by 2024, so that companies and bodies in critical sectors such as energy, logistics and financial services have to meet certain cybersecurity requirements. NIS2 defines a critical sector much more broadly than the old NIS Directive – a change generally welcomed by security experts. NIS2 refers to 'important' and 'essential' entities. The following table lists the sectors set to come within the directive's scope later this year. Within the relevant sectors, an entity's size also matters: in most cases, small entities will be exempt.

NIS2 - Added sectors

Food industry

Postal and courier services

Telecoms and energy network services

Manufacturing of certain critical products

Rail infrastructure operation

Government services

Space industry

Digital social networking services etc

Waste and water management

Financial services

Domain name registrations

NIS2 includes requirements regarding domain name registrations, particularly registration data. Article 28 reads:

" [..] Member States shall require TLD name registries and entities providing domain name registration services to collect and maintain accurate and complete domain name registration data [..]"

The data to be collected and accurately maintained includes at least the registrant's name, e-mail address and phone number. The required information will have to be validated by a procedure very similar to that already followed by gTLDs. The procedure will include the registrant confirming their details by responding to an e-mail from the registrar. All domain name providers in the EU will additionally have to publish their data verification procedures on their websites.

Impact on organisations

So, what do the new rules mean for companies and other organisations? If an organisation manages thousands of domain names, the organisation will need to see that the registration data is correct. Procedures for amending registration data will also have to be in place. Incorrect registration data could lead to a domain name being disabled, and any associated applications and websites with it. For a large organisation with a constant turnover of personnel, where internal structures and legal entities are liable to change, that represents a significant risk. Effective, centralised management of domain name portfolios will therefore be more important than ever.

Domain name monitoring

Against that backdrop, a good domain name monitoring tool can be very useful. It enables you to maintain an overview, avoid losing track of domain names when reorganisations take place, and readily distinguish your own domain names from others. SIDN BrandGuard has been doing that for 300-plus large Dutch organisations since 2012.

Want to know more?

The full text of the NIS2 directive is available on the website of the European Union.

SIDN BranGuard

If you're interested in domain name monitoring, why not get an online demo to check out SIDN BrandGuard? Our account manager will be pleased to give you a call to make the arrangements.