Home Register a domain .nl domain
.nl — managed by SIDN · the Netherlands

The Dutch domain name —
recognised and trusted

A .nl domain name is the strongest signal that you are a Dutch business. High trust with visitors, better visibility in Google.nl — from €5.25/year, online instantly.

  • Active right after registration
  • DNSSEC and DANE included
  • Full DNS management via your account
  • Terms of 1 to 10 years
  • Optional privacy protection (+€4.99/yr)
.nl
Promotional price, 1st year
€5.25
Then €10.25/year · excl. VAT
Active right after registration
DNS management and DNSSEC included
Terms of 1–10 years
Transfer within the hour
.nl
Anyone can register a .nl — no local presence requirement
6.7 M
.nl domains registered
< 1 hour
Transfer time to Domein Direct
SIDN
Official Dutch registry
1986
Oldest ccTLD in Europe
Why .nl?

The Dutch trust signal for your website

A .nl domain name tells visitors at a glance that you are a Dutch business. Research by SIDN shows that .nl domains have significantly higher click-through rates in Google.nl than .com or other extensions for the same search term.

That trust is no coincidence: .nl is the third most registered country-code extension in the world and the oldest ccTLD in Europe. The registry is managed by SIDN, an independent Dutch foundation that has safeguarded the quality and reliability of .nl for more than 40 years.

For SEO, .nl is treated by Google as a strong local signal. If you want to rank for Dutch searches — from "plumber Amsterdam" to "accountant Rotterdam" — it starts with a .nl domain name.

Find your .nl name
Technical specifications .nl
Registry
SIDN (Stichting Internet Domeinregistratie Nederland)
Established
1986 — oldest ccTLD in Europe
Activation
Immediately after registration (within minutes)
Transfer time
Within the hour via EPP code
Term
1 to 10 years
DNSSEC
Included, fully supported
DANE
Supported (email security)
IPv6
Fully supported
Who may?
Anyone — no local presence requirement
Characters
2–63 characters; letters, digits, hyphens
Compare extensions

.nl vs other popular extensions

Which extension fits your situation best? Here are the key differences side by side.

Extension .nl Most popular .com .eu .be .de
Price 1st year €5.25 €13.99 €6.99 €6.99 €7.99
Renewal price €10.25/yr €17.60/yr €17.49/yr €13.99/yr €9.99/yr
Audience Netherlands International Europe Belgium Germany
Local SEO NL – – – –
DNSSEC
Transfer time < 1 hour 1–7 days 1–3 days 1–3 days 1–3 hours
Local presence requirement No No EU address No No

All prices excl. VAT. Promotional rates apply to the first year for new registrations.

How do you register a .nl domain name?

Online in three steps

Registration runs entirely online. Your domain name is active immediately after payment.

1

Check availability

Search for your preferred .nl name using the domain checker. You see straight away whether the name is available and what alternative extensions cost.

2

Choose a term and options

Choose a term of 1 to 10 years — the longer, the better the price per year. Optionally add privacy protection for €4.99/year.

3

Pay and go live

Pay via iDEAL, credit card or bank transfer. Your .nl domain name is registered within minutes and ready to manage in your account.

Start searching
Frequently asked questions

.nl domain name — everything you want to know

How soon is a .nl domain name active after registration?
Immediately — within a few minutes of payment your .nl domain name is registered with SIDN and active. You receive a confirmation by email with the login details for your account, where you can get started with DNS management right away.
Who may register a .nl domain name?
Anyone — individuals, companies and organisations, both from the Netherlands and abroad. Since 2012 there has been no local presence requirement for .nl. So you do not need a Dutch address to register a .nl domain name.
What is SIDN and what does it have to do with my .nl?
SIDN is the Stichting Internet Domeinregistratie Nederland — the independent registry for .nl domains. All .nl domain names are registered with SIDN through accredited registrars such as Domein Direct. SIDN has safeguarded the quality, reliability and security of the .nl domain for more than 40 years.
Can I register my .nl domain name privately?
Yes. With our privacy protection (€4.99/year) your contact details are shielded in the public WHOIS database. You remain the official holder of the domain name — only the visibility of your personal data is limited. This is available for all extensions we offer.
How long does it take to transfer a .nl domain name to Domein Direct?
Transferring a .nl domain name usually takes less than an hour. You request a transfer code (EPP/authorisation code) from your current registrar and enter it during the transfer process at Domein Direct. Your domain name and DNS settings stay active throughout the transfer.
What is the difference between .nl and .com for SEO?
.nl is a strong local signal for Google: it tells search engines that your website is primarily aimed at the Netherlands. This helps you rank for Dutch searches. A .com is generic and international — better if you also want to rank outside the Netherlands. For a purely Dutch business, .nl is the logical first choice; you can always register a .com as well and forward it to your main domain.
Combine with

Do more with your .nl domain name

A domain name is just the start. Add hosting, email or security for a complete online presence.

🖥

Web hosting

NVMe SSD, free SSL, backups. From €2.75/month.
📧

Professional email

Email on your own .nl domain. Webmail included.
🔒

Privacy protection

Hide your details in WHOIS. €4.99/year.
🔐

SSL certificate

Free with every hosting plan. DV, OV and EV available.

Register your .nl domain name

Online instantly · From €5.25/year · DNS management included

.nl
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