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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Our services get their highest rating ever: 8.5 out of ten

  • Monday 17 December 2018

Each October and November, we carry out a customer satisfaction survey. This year, questionnaires were completed by 170 registrars, Domain Name Surveillance Service subscribers and registry service users, who gave our services an average satisfaction mark of 8.5 out of ten. Respondents were particularly pleased with the personal contact. They also gave us some useful ideas for making further improvements.

Improvements in 2018

Since the 2017 survey, we've addressed a number of points flagged up by respondents over the years. For instance, we've teamed up with the Registrars' Association to set up a Legal Help Desk for registrars, and we've made various improvements to our user interfaces. Respondents recognised the progress made and expressed their appreciation. Most registrars and service users were pleased about how quickly the improvements were made.

Personal contact important

Personal contact plays an increasingly important role in defining satisfaction with our services. For many respondents, it's what distinguishes us from other players. Support for registrars is a good example. Satisfaction with the contact with our Support Department increased further: the rating is now more than 8.5. Large registrars even gave us nine out of ten for friendly support.

Disagreement about GDPR-related changes

The changes we made in connection with the General Data Protection Regulation received a less positive response. When the new law came in, we felt obliged to further restrict registrars' access to Whois data. That triggered mixed responses from our clientele. How far should SIDN have gone? Were the restrictions excessive, or did it make sense to stick to the letter of the law?

Scope for further improvement

Although satisfaction is clearly very high, respondents highlighted a few areas where we could do better still. In particular, it was felt that our systems could be made more accessible and user-friendly. We'll be addressing those points in 2019. 

Feel free to get in touch if you've got a question

You can reach us on working days between 8am and 6pm (Dutch time) by calling +31 26 352 5555 or mailing support@sidn.nl.