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  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date.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

DNS (Domain Name System)

When you use the net, do you know what actually happens when you type a web address into your browser? How does your computer recognize the right website you are looking for?

Dive into the world behind the internet with us and discover how the domain name system works. We explain it to you using our example supersokken.nl in the video below.

Video supersokken.nl

Super sokken

What is a domain name?

A domain name is a unique internet name. Our domain name is sidn.nl. Domain names are used mainly for websites. But you can do other things with them, such as create your own e-mail addresses. Read more about: what is a domain name

Orange robot .nl domain name

Got a domain name in mind?

If you've thought of a name, you'll want to know whether anyone else has already taken it. You can do that by typing it into the bar, where it says Check your .nl domain name here. Our checker will tell you whether the name is available, or what its status is. For details, see Looking up a domain name.

  • .nl statistics

    Current statistics about the use of the .nl zone. Over 6 million registered .nl domain names make .nl one of the world's largest ccTLDs.

    See more .nl stats

    Read more .nl statistics

  • Glossary

    We try to explain everything as clearly as possible. However, you might sometimes see a word or abbreviation on our site that you don't know. If so, check our glossary to see what it means.

    Consult the glossary

    Read more Glossary

  • The organisation of the internet

    The internet is quite complex. Want to know how things work? See how the internet's organised.

    See how the internet's organised

    Read more The organisation of the internet