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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

.nl in the spotlight: vakantiehuisopdeveluwe.nl

"With findability in mind, I looked at other domain names as well"

Holiday home Vliegend Hert (Flying Deer) in Nunspeet
  • Monday 11 March 2024

The .nl domain now has more than 6.3 million domain names, with businesses accounting for the majority of new .nls registered with SIDN. And, behind every business domain name and website, there's a story. Like the story of Lisette van Marrewijk and vakantiehuisopdeveluwe.nl, the domain name she registered to promote the holiday home she lets out.

Can you tell us a bit about your business?

Portrait photo of Lisette van Marrewijk
Lisette van Marrewijk registered vakantiehuisopdeveluwe.nl.

In June of last year, my wife and I bought a holiday home in a picturesque part of the Netherlands called the Veluwe. We wanted a place where we could get away from it all with our daughter, which we could also let out when we weren't using it ourselves. My professional background is in communications, so I was able to build a website quite quickly. Our holiday home is called Het Vliegend Hert, which means 'The Flying Deer'. So we registered the domain name vakantiehuisvliegendhert.nl to go with it. We're initially aiming at Dutch holidaymakers, but we're planning to put up English and German versions of the site soon."

Didn't you already have another website?

"Yes. With findability in mind, I decided to look at other domain names as well. I was really surprised to find that no one had yet taken vakantiehuisopdeveluwe.nl: 'holiday home on the Veluwe'. So I was able to set up a Google registration, meaning that people who search for 'holiday home on the Veluwe' are pointed straight to us. It's a fairly simple site, designed to guide people to the main Vliegend Hert website, where the booking system is."

What else do you do to make yourselves findable online?

"As well as having 2 websites of our own, we use platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com. We're also active on LinkedIn, Instagram and, to a lesser extent, Facebook, where we advertise, for example. On LinkedIn, we pitch the property to businesspeople looking for a nice location for a working holiday, and we actively promote the house as a children's holiday destination. Another thing I'm planning to do is learn more about WhatsApp Business, with the aim of staying in better contact with people that rent the house."

Was the name of your .nl website you first choice?

"When I went to look for a second domain name, I asked myself, 'What do people who are looking to take a break on the Veluwe tap into their search engine?' Our house is for 6 people, with a garden and lots of amenities, and it's ideal for people who are holidaying with children. It's a proper family holiday home. People who search for things such as 'holiday cottage in the woods' or 'holiday cottage in the country' are probably after something smaller. So I came up with the domain name vakantiehuisopdeveluwe.nl, and fortunately it was available to register right away."

Do you have any tips for people just starting out in business?

"Don't wait too long before going live with your website. If you've got a good domain name, it doesn't take long to put together a website, or to get one built. You can find lots of advice on the internet. After all, no website is ever perfect, or ever really finished. Of course, it's frustrating if you can't find quite the right photos, or if the booking module goes down for a day. But, once the website is live, at least you're findable. And you can sort out the little issues as you go along."

Want to read more business stories?

Take a look at other entrepreneurs and startups and their .nl.