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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

A vision of our role in the prevention of abuse in the .nl domain

Version: 1 January 2023

The role and responsibilities of the operator of a top-level domain are defined in the standard document RFC 1591, published in 1994. As the operator of the .nl domain, we are therefore considered to be that domain's trustee; our task is to provide 'a public service on behalf of the internet community' and to perform an 'equitable, just, honest and competent job'.

We are accordingly committed to delivering a .nl domain that is of real value to the Dutch internet community. A domain that is widely used within the Netherlands and relevant to registrants and internet users; a domain that is trustworthy and secure.

Our vision of our role implies that we actively seek to prevent illegal, unlawful or violating activities ('abuse') that involve the use of .nl domain names. In line with our close association with the Netherlands, we judge whether an activity is abusive on the basis of Dutch law.

With a view to actively preventing abuse, we continuously:

  • gather relevant knowledge regarding and pursue insight into abuse within the .nl domain, both by undertaking research and by obtaining information from third parties;

  • inform relevant stakeholders (registrants, registrars, hosting service providers, crime prevention agencies) about abuse within the .nl domain, and encourage action to address such abuse by and in cooperation with such stakeholders;

  • establish and apply processes and procedures for the prevention and curtailment of abuse, including processes and procedures that provide for our direct intervention to deactivate a domain name in the last resort, where such intervention is subsidiary and proportionate.

Our activities are guided by the following principles:

  • We are committed to tackling abuse involving .nl domain names, but our status is such that we are not legally responsible or liable for such abuse.

  • In line with our close association with the Netherlands, we judge abuse on the basis of Dutch law.

  • A domain name is merely a signpost to content held on a server. Intervention at the domain-name level is therefore appropriate only where content cannot reasonably be removed from its server or modified on that server within an acceptable time frame.

  • Our focus should be largely confined to situations where there is significant risk to internet users, and where recourse to formal court or administrative procedures is inappropriate or (in view of the potential impact) is unlikely to lead to corrective action within an acceptable time frame.

  • In our collaboration with third parties, we should strive for efficiency and seek to avoid imposing excessive burden on other actors.

  • Abuse prevention activities should be undertaken with the utmost care, should incorporate proportionality checks and should respect affected parties' right to object. Adequate opportunity should also exist for an affected party to appeal to an independent body against any decision we make to intervene.

All our abuse prevention activities are intended to promote an open, valuable and value-based .nl zone; a zone where abuse is minimised and any abuse that does occur is addressed quickly and effectively; a zone that is considered trustworthy by people of good intent, and as unattractive by people of bad intent.