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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

ICANN comes to the Netherlands

International meeting in The Hague from 13 to 16 June

ICANN logo on a laptop screen
  • Monday 23 May 2022

From 13 to 16 June, the seventy-fourth ICANN meeting takes place in The Hague. It'll be the first time since 2002 that the Netherlands has hosted an ICANN meeting. The gathering will also be ICANN's first face-to-face meeting since 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic. So it'll be something of a special occasion. More than a thousand participants from all around the world are expected.

What is ICANN?

ICANN stands for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It's the global umbrella organisation for domain names. ICANN operates on the basis of the multistakeholder model: an internet governance model where consensus is sought amongst all interested groups in order to develop policies that work for everyone.

Developing policy on internet domains

Using the multistakeholder model, ICANN develops policies mainly on 'generic top-level domains' (gTLDs), such as .com and .amsterdam. Although those policies don't apply directly to country-code domains such as .nl, whose policies are defined locally, they can be relevant to the Dutch internet community and serve as inspiration for national policies. Within ICANN, the country-code communities also decide how ICANN will handle country-code delegations. Recently, for example, a policy was agreed on how country codes are to be withdrawn if a country ceases to exist or changes its name. For instance, when the Netherlands Antilles separated into three island states (Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten), its .an domain ceased operating, and each island was given its own country code. We are closely and actively involved in ICANN. We have representation on various committees, participate in debates and actively share our knowledge and experience with other members of the ICANN community.

The ICANN meeting

ICANN meetings take place three times a year, visiting each continent in turn. The rotation system is intended to give all stakeholders around the world the opportunity to attend meetings in person. A hybrid meeting form is used, so it's possible to participate online. The drawback with virtual participation is, however, that you miss out on the informal contacts, which are often the most valuable. The meeting in The Hague is a Policy Meeting. As that title suggests, its primary purpose is policy development. Policy Meetings tend to attract fewer participants than other types of ICANN meeting. About 1,100 people attended the most recent Policy Meeting. Nevertheless, it's hard to predict how many people will attend the meeting in The Hague, because it's the first physical meeting for several years. Perhaps an unusually high number of people will be motivated to take part. Or perhaps we'll find that people in some parts of the world are still reluctant or unable to travel.

What's on the agenda for ICANN The Hague?

New application window for top-level domains

The last opportunity to apply for a new top-level domain was back in 2012, when .politie and .amsterdam were among the successful candidates. Ever since then, ICANN has been discussing how the next application round might work. The subject will be on the agenda once again in The Hague. If you're interested in following the relevant sessions, search for 'New gTLD Subsequent Procedure (SubPro)'.

Whois data and the GDPR

In line with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), access to the Whois has been restricted. The ICANN community is therefore working on a policy that would allow interested parties access to additional Whois information. If you'd like to follow the relevant sessions, search for 'Expedited Policy Development Process on the Temporary Specification for gTLD Registration Data: Phase 2'.

Abuse prevention

The upcoming ICANN meeting will include several sessions on anti-abuse activities. These sessions are usually less policy-focused and more about sharing practical advice – what a registrar or registry can do to tackle abuse, for example. Details on the abuse prevention sessions can be found by looking for session titles that include 'DNS abuse'.

Participating in ICANN The Hague

ICANN meetings are open for anyone to attend, free of charge. To register for ICANN The Hague, visit https://74.schedule.icann.org/. Please note: the ICANN community uses a lot of jargon. As a result, sessions can be hard to follow for people who aren't industry insiders. You may therefore find the ICANN Wiki helpful.

Coronavirus prevention measures

People attending the ICANN meeting in person should be prepared for stricter coronavirus controls than those that apply generally in the Netherlands. ICANN attaches great importance to visitors' health and safety. Consequently, various rules apply in addition to the current Dutch rules. The main additional rules are as follows:

  • Facemasks are compulsory during the meeting.

  • People attending the meeting must keep 1.5 metres apart.

  • You won't be allowed into the venue without evidence of full vaccination, including booster vaccination.

  • Everyone's temperature will be remotely measured on arrival.

Want to know more?

For more information about ICANN The Hague, visit https://74.schedule.icann.org/.