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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Implementation of existing standards would make the internet much more secure

  • Wednesday 6 November 2019

We have to make the electronic world more secure, according to Vint Cerf, one of the pioneers of the internet. Cerf reckons that the biggest problem of all is spoofing, where users are directed to falsified addresses and systems, and users take on fake identities. That's why the electronic identification and authentication (validation) of online computer systems and users is such a hot topic.

Cerf highlights SSL certificates (TLS), DNSSEC, two-factor authentication (2FA), and HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) as vital security technologies for tackling spoofing.

Adoption increasing, but slowly

We have been promoting use of the internet security standards mentioned by Cerf -- and others such as DANE and DKIM/SPF/DMARC for e-mail -- for some time. For example, we have an incentive scheme for registrars [DANE], we publish technical information [DNSSEC, IPv6], we hold knowledge sessions [IPv6, DANE] and we run public information campaigns. The Platform for Internet Standards (internet.nl) also works to promote modern internet (security) standards [mail], but its focus is specifically on Dutch government bodies. Our surveys of IPv6 and DNSSEC use and reports published by the Forum for Standardisation show that adoption of the relevant standards is definitely increasing, but that progress is frustratingly slow. What's more, the Netherlands lags behind other comparable countries when it comes to use of IPv6 and DNSSEC validation. The strong growth of DNSSEC validation in Belgium this year underlines the importance of support from the main market players.

Plenty of scope for improvement

Better internet security and stability doesn't therefore depend on the development of new standards. A great deal could be achieved simply by implementing the standards we've already got -- some of which have been around for a long time. That's clear from the report on a recent APNIC deployathon for RPKI, DNSSEC, DMARC and TLS. It's also vital that suppliers upgrade their tools and services, as previously pointed out by Bart Knubben of the Forum for Standardisation: "It's important that software suppliers and service providers make the standards easy to implement, or -- even better -- make support for the standards the default position." He believes that both government organisations and their major service providers should be individually urged to take action.