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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

Why opt for a .nl domain name?

In the modern world, it's almost impossible to do business without a website. A Dutch business choosing a domain name extension has various options, including .nl, .com, .net, .org and, recently, .amsterdam. So why go for .nl?

More click with .nl

.nl is the most popular domain name extension in the Netherlands. Every year, more than 750,000 new .nl domain names are registered. And the .nl domain is especially popular with businesses. Here's what makes .nl the best choice for your business:

82 per cent of Dutch internet users prefer to buy from .nl webshops

Given a choice between webshops with similar domain names but different extensions, which would Dutch internet users choose to buy from? Then 82% choose .nl (source: SIDN/GfK). And the higher the value of the item they want, the stronger the preference for .nl. So a .nl domain name means more trade for your business.

Better findability for increased traffic

.nl is the extension for the Netherlands. So domain names ending with .nl tend to appear higher in Dutch search results than other domain names. The effect is amplified by users choosing .nl domain names from the search results ahead of others. Upshot is that the user relevance of a .nl increases faster than that of any alternative. Which all translates into a higher search engine ranking and more business coming your way. Also watch a video on this topic on our site.

More trust means more conversion

As well as preferring .nl search results, Dutch internet users trust .nl domain names more. Trust lowers the threshold to making purchases and doing business. And the more important a transaction is to the user, the bigger the trust gap between .nl and the rest.

.nl is the Dutch domain, and local means trusted

Consumers like to shop local and use local tradespeople. Even on the internet. As the Dutch domain, .nl feels more local than any other. The words that consumers associate with .nl most are 'local', 'familiar', 'trustworthy', 'secure' and 'stable'.

.nl is demonstrably more secure

Together with hosting and internet access providers, SIDN runs a scheme called abuse204.nl to keep the internet secure. The scheme tackles fake webshops, phishing and malware. And it works! Over a period of years, study after study has found that there is a lot less abuse linked to .nl domains than to .com and other domains.

An obvious choice for business use

On average, a Dutch internet user visits more than 250 different websites a month. The extensions of those websites depends on what they're for. The 'serious' addresses that Dutch people visit -- for business, news, information, shopping and so on -- nearly all end with .nl (bron: SIDN GfK).

So Dutch internet users associate .nl strongly with doing business and with enterprise.

When choosing an extension for your website, it pays to consider the facts presented here. Your website's image starts with your domain name.

Plenty of choice!

To make finding your ideal .nl domain name easier, we have the .nl suggestion tool. This tool shows many available suggestions. Give it a try!

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