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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

SIDN continues as registry service provider for .amsterdam

  • Wednesday 13 November 2019

Amsterdam's municipal authority recently extended its contract for the .amsterdam top-level domain (TLD). Under the contract, SIDN will continue to act as .amsterdam's 'registry service provider'. In other words, we'll go on operating the domain's technical infrastructure, as we have done since .amsterdam's creation. The extension covers the next five years. The city chose to prolong the partnership because of our expertise and experience with .nl, our secure and stable technical infrastructure and the comfortable working relationship we have developed.

GeoTLD application criteria unchanged

SIDN's expertise decisive

Amsterdam's decision-makers were happy to continue using SIDN as their RSP, mainly because we offer both a stable technical infrastructure and support in the form of advice on developments within ICANN and on settling occasional disputes about .amsterdam domain names. We also provide second-line support to .amsterdam registrars and dotAmsterdam b.v., the domain's registry.

Nearly 27,000 .amsterdam domain names

Creation of .amsterdam five years ago was part of a global trend. Cities such as London, New York and many others successfully opened their electronic territory to facilitate internet-mediated economic growth. Businesses and private citizens in the world's great cities, including Amsterdam, are keen to use dedicated extensions for the further development of their venues, shops and services. There are now almost 27,000 registered .amsterdam domain names. That makes .amsterdam the sixth biggest city TLD, after Tokyo, New York, Berlin, London and Cologne.

Domain name extensions for cities and regions

Amsterdam, Berlin, Catalonia and Friesland all have their own domain name extensions, .amsterdam, .berlin, .cat and .frl. Extensions linked to particular cities or regions are known as geoTLDs. When a geoTLD relates to a city, it's sometimes called a city TLD. GeoTLDs have been around for nearly twenty years, but most were created in 2012. That's when the city of Amsterdam applied to register .amsterdam,

New application window expected in 2021

GeoTLDs are assigned by an independent global organisation called the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). You can't apply for a geoTLD any time you like. ICANN defines 'windows': periods of a few months, during which applications can be made. ICANN is currently preparing for a new window, probably in 2021.