sidn

SIDN, short for Stichting Internet Domeinregistratie Nederland, is a Dutch non-profit organization that operates the registry for the country-code top-level domain .nl. Established in 1996 by Dutch Internet service providers to take over domain name registration from NIC Netherlands, SIDN coordinates the administration of .nl, including the registration process, DNS infrastructure, and policy development. The organization is headquartered in the Netherlands.

SIDN operates the .nl registry, working with accredited registrars to manage domain name registrations, maintain the zone file, and ensure data quality. It runs the DNS infrastructure for .nl, implements security features such as DNSSEC, and provides mechanisms for abuse handling and privacy-compliant publication of registration information. The organization also supports operational security, incident response, and reliability through measurement and testing.

SIDN is organized as a non-profit with governance by a board of directors and a supervisory board. It funds its operations through fees paid by registrars and customers. A portion of its revenue is used to support the SIDN Fund, which finances projects related to internet development in the Netherlands.

The SIDN Fund is a charitable foundation that supports initiatives in digital inclusion, cybersecurity awareness, education, and open standards. It distributes grants to organizations and projects that align with its mission to strengthen the Dutch internet landscape. SIDN collaborates with international registries and standards bodies and participates in industry associations to promote best practices in domain management and security.

SIDN participates in European and international governance forums and collaborates with registries and policymakers to ensure compliance with laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It aims to maintain a secure, reliable, and accessible .nl namespace.