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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Pledging your domain name

Many domain names are financially valuable. That makes them assets, and assets can be 'pledged': used as security to obtain finance or credit.

How to pledge a domain name

Changing your domain name's registrant Transferring your domain name

Only the registrant can pledge a domain name. This is how you do it:

  1. Set up a deed of pledge.

    You can write your own deed or get one draw up by a notary. It has be signed by both you and the person you're pledging the name to (the 'pledgee').

  2. Tell us about the pledgee:

    Send us the pledgee's details by post or by e-mail, together with the deed. We need the following info:

    • Name contact person or department and address

    • E-mail address

    • Phone number(s) and, where relevant, a fax number

  3.  Send the deed to support@sidn.nl.

  4.  We'll make a record of the pledge.

    We'll write back confirming what we've done. 

Updating a pledged domain name

Changing a pledged domain name’s registrant

You can transfer control of a pledged domain name to a new registrant, but only with the pledgee’s consent. If a pledged domain name gets a new registrant, the pledge ends. You arrange everything through your registrar (hosting service provider). We'll need to have the pledgee's agreement in writing before the change can go ahead.

Transferring a pledged domain name to another registrar

A pledged domain name can be transferred in the normal way. Read more about transferring a domain name.

Cancelling a pledged domain name

Before a pledged domain can be cancelled, the pledge has to end. So you'll need send us the pledgee's agreement in writing. The letter has to be signed by both you and the pledgee. Once we've recorded the change, you can cancel your domain name through your registrar.

Cancellation of a pledged domain name by SIDN

Occasionally, we decide to cancel a pledged domain name. We might do that if you don't pay your bills or keep other agreements. Before we go ahead, we'll give the pledgee the chance to take over the name, along with the registrant's obligations. A registrant's obligations are explained in the General Terms and Conditions for .nl Registrants. If the pledgee doesn't take over the name within thirty days, we'll cancel its registration.