SIDN Annual Report 2025: Working together for a connected and resilient internet sector
Our Annual Report for 2025 is now available
Now 40 years old, the .nl domain is a stable force on the internet. In the Netherlands, .nl forms the reliable basis for collaboration, enterprise and the provision of vital electronic services. It also connects internet users, organisations and government entities across the country to one another and to the rest of the world. Last year, we saw further evidence that our domain’s security and availability cannot be taken for granted. Geopolitical tensions, cyber-attacks and dependency on big tech companies were ever-present themes, pushing strategic digital autonomy up the political agenda. Against that backdrop, assuring the continued security, reliability and availability of .nl is a more essential task than ever, and remains our absolute priority. Our recalibrated strategy is therefore characterised by a strong focus on our core task: looking after the .nl domain. Full details of how we fulfilled that task in 2025 are given in our Annual Report, published today.
A contracting market
According to GfK research in October 2025, .nl is the preferred extension for 68 per cent of Dutch start-ups. Nevertheless, the number of .nl domain names declined slightly in 2025 to 6,059,392. Significant drivers of that trend included a high number of business closures and a downturn in the number of start-ups. In the second quarter of 2025, 23 per cent more businesses closed than in the same period of 2024, while the number of start-ups dropped by 13 per cent (source: Chamber of Commerce, 2025). Furthermore, it appeared that the rising costs of domain names and hosting are causing many businesses to look critically at their domain name portfolios.
Read more about the development of .nl
Backbone of the digital society
A secure internet infrastructure is vital to the stability and constant availability of .nl. Indeed, it is the backbone of digital society in the Netherlands and beyond. Since 2011, our research department SIDN Labs has been working to enhance the security of the internet infrastructure through applied technical research. And, through SIDN Fund, we invest in innovative projects that contribute to an open, free and trustworthy internet. We also put our knowledge and expertise to the widest possible use, partnering organisations such as the National Cyber Security Centre and working within international forums, including IETF, ICANN and IGF.
Read more about how we contributed to an open, secure and resilient internet
An effective and flexible SIDN organisation
It’s vital that we continue to develop our organisation so that we can go on fulfilling our societal role and improving the quality of our work for .nl. We therefore anticipate both opportunities and threats such as more complex cyber-attacks. So, for example, we work with other registries within TLD ISAC to build up cyber-resilience, and we take part in national DDoS exercises. We also invest energetically in our people. In 2025, staff were able to take courses to boost their knowledge of cloud technology and cloud engineering. At the end of the year, our status as a good employer was underscored when we were awarded the label World-Class Workplace.
Read more about developments within the SIDN organisation
Read our Annual Report
Our Annual Report describes our main activities and achievements in 2025 and the year’s key learning points. It also sets out our plans for a strong .nl and an open, secure and resilient global internet in 2026. It's well worth a look.
