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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Dutch police agree 4-year extension to contract for .politie domain

“.politie is an important asset for the future development of our digital strategy”

Police logo on the facade of a police station

As well as operating the .nl domain, we act as registry service provider for several other top-level domains. One of them is .politie, the Dutch national police force's top-level domain, which we've supported since 2012. And we're pleased to announce that our contract with the force has recently been extended for another 4 years.

Partnership adds value

Explaining the background, the police's Delivery Manager for the IP & Domain Office Product Line Peter Gelhard says, ".politie is an important asset for the future development of our digital strategy. SIDN handles the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the domain for us. SIDN also closely monitors international developments and makes its expertise available to us. The arrangement means that operation of the .politie top-level domain doesn't distract us from our core activities. So our partnership with SIDN provides real added value."

Internal use

The .politie domain is currently still used mainly for building understanding of domain name management and delivering internal services 8 years after first going live. However, although only a small number of .politie domain names have so far been created, the police have now started making more general use of the domain.

Want to know more about having your own TLD?

Interested in getting your own top-level domain? The next window for applying to create new top-level domains is expected to open in 2026. For information about the opportunities and details of our registry services, see our website or contact our Product Manager Pim Pastoors by calling +31 657 045 407 or mailing pim.pastoors@sidn.nl.

Contact person:

Pim Pastoors

Pim Pastoors

Product Owner