.nl is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the Netherlands. Registrations are processed via a network of participants. It is one of the more popular ccTLD’s, ranked 4th in the quarterly VeriSign Domain Name Industry Brief of February 2009 for the fourth quarter of 2008, after .cn, .de and .uk.
It was the first ccTLD ever to be registered. The authority for the .nl domain was handed over to Piet Beertema of the Centrum voor Wiskunde en Informatica in 1986.
Since January 31, 1996 .nl domains are registered by the Stichting Internet Domeinregistratie Nederland (SIDN). SIDN operates as a registry, with ca. 2100 registrars. Most registrars are ISPs, IT service bureaus and media service bureaus, but several large enterprises with many brand names have also become a registrar, or participant as SIDN calls them, which is a quite uncommon phenomenon in the domain name industry. Registrars have to pay SIDN a fee for each domain since April 1, 1996, until then registration was free. SIDN does not deal directly with Registrants. In the early days, most of the registrants were universities and research departments of large companies, such as Philips Research.
Individuals are allowed to register a second-level .nl domain since 2003. As a forerunner, individuals were allowed to register a third-level domain since 2000. Such ‘personal domains’ had the form of janjansen.123.nl. They never became popular, and registration has been suspended since 2006. Because there are only around 500 of such domains registered, in contrast to about 2 million second-level domains, SIDN announced the discontinuance of personal domains as of 2008 on July 4th, 2007. Owners of such domains will be contacted by SIDN and offered a small fee if they cooperate.
The cost of a .nl domain varies, but depending on the registrar the price is around 10 to 15 euros. 70% of the .nl domains are used by businesses. A survey by SIDN showed that at least 62% of all .nl domains have a website.
.nl Domain Names are available for registration or transfer from:
| Introduced | April 25, 1986 |
|---|---|
| TLD type | Country code top-level domain |
| Status | Active |
| Registry | SIDN |
| Sponsor | SIDN |
| Intended use | Entities connected with the Netherlands |
| Actual use | Very popular in the Netherlands |
| Registration restrictions | Registrants must provide contact address in the Netherlands |
| Structure | Registrations are taken directly at the second level |
| Introduced | 2001 |
| TLD type | Generic top-level domain |
| Status | Active |
| Registry | Afilias |
| Sponsor | None |
| Intended use | Informational sites |
| Actual use | A variety of uses, many information, some held by speculators |
| Registration restrictions | None |
| Structure | Registrations at second level permitted |
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