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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

How eIDs are improving security on the Danish internet

Fighting cybercrime with eIDs

All across Europe, electronic identities (eIDs) are on the rise. More and more countries are deciding that, in this day and age, we can't keep relying on photocopies of people's passports to verify their identities. Over the next few years, on-line authentication will get a major boost in the Netherlands from the adoption of eHerkenning by the business community. Similar developments are taking place in other countries, including Denmark.

eIDs in Denmark

IRMA wins ISOC.nl Internet Innovation Award 2019 Why would you share more data than you need to?

In Denmark, eIDs have been in widespread use for several years. Every Danish citizen has an eID (NemID), making it easy for people to identify themselves on line. As well as being more convenient, rapid identity verification helps to minimise abuse.

Fighting cybercrime with eIDs

Last month, DK Hostmaster -- the 'Danish SIDN' -- presented the results of their efforts to fight cybercrime by using eIDs. Most registrants of .dk domain names have to identify themselves electronically, so it's easy to trace them and take action if the domain is linked to abuse. Both in situations where the registrant is the culprit, and where the domain's security has been compromised.

Great results

Use of eIDs has been hugely effective. As a percentage of all webshops in the .dk domain, fake webshops have dwindled from nearly 7 per cent in 2017 to just 0.1 per cent at the start of 2019. More than three thousand fakes were taken off line in the space of a year. The Danish police estimate that, in 2018 alone, DK Hostmaster's initiative has saved three person-years of investigation work. And it's not only police time that's been saved: use of NemIDs has all but eliminated data entry errors and confusion about who a registrant is.

eIDs represent a big challenge for Europe

DK Hostmaster's decision to adopt the eID policy is based on the conviction that cutting out abuse is the best way to make the .dk domain attractive to users. Less abuse means more trust. A philosophy that SIDN shares. However, the Danish example has also shown that insisting on electronic identification does present challenges. Particularly if you want to welcome registrants from other countries. The registry currently allows non-Danish registrants to identify themselves by other means. In the future, the eIDAS Directive will require DK Hostmaster to accept other European states' eIDs.

Lessons for the Netherlands?

From the Danish example, it's clear how valuable a widely used eID system can be. Electronic IDs are on the rise in the Netherlands too, driven not by government policy, but by the market. eHerkenning has seen particularly rapid growth as government agencies have adopted it for the identification of enterprises. Together with IRMA, we're working on a unique privacy-enabled identity platform that lets users share only as much personal data as strictly necessary. If such developments continue, we'll be able to start using electronic identification within .nl to further enhance security.

Article by:

Michiel Henneke

Michiel Henneke

Marketing Manager