Chose your color

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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Registration process and suggestion tool upgraded!

Design and accessibility improved

  • Friday 26 November 2021

We've made a number of improvements to the process of finding and registering a domain name. The design has been modified to make the process more user-friendly. And the domain name suggestion tool is now directly accessible from the site's main menu.

Three steps to domain name registration

We've introduced a fresh design aligned with the registration pages used by our sales partners, the .nl registrars. The changes are intended to make the process clearer and easier to use.

After visiting our homepage and typing in the .nl you want, there are three easy steps:

  1. If the domain name is available, it's added to your shopping trolley.

  2. Three other names that you might be interested in are suggested.

  3. You select the registrar you want to handle your registration.

Old and new set-ups compared

Old and new design of the registration proces

Suggestion tool makes it easy to find your ideal .nl

As well as redesigning the lookup page, we've made the domain name suggestion tool accessible directly from the site's main menu. Not sure what .nl domain name you want? First choice already taken? Our suggestion tool can help you find a great name. Use the filter options to focus in on suggestions that match your needs and preferences. You can tailor the length of the suggestions, for example, and say whether you want hyphenated names included or not. Found a name that fits the bill? You're just three easy steps away from registering your new .nl with the registrar of your choice.

Example of how the new layout of the suggestiontool looks like

See alternative names at a glance

Someone else already registered your first-choice domain name? We'll suggest some alternatives in a clear and straightforward way. If none of them appeal, it's easy to continue exploring the possibilities with the help of our domain name suggestion tool.

Example of how the page looks when the domain name is not available

Whois Direct

For professional users, we've created a new direct route to Whois results. Whois Direct is available at https://www.sidn.nl/en/whois-direct.

Voorbeeld van de nieuwe whois-direct pagina

Got a question? Want to make a suggestion?

Drop a line to communicatie@sidn.nl.