About SIDN
SIDN is an internet company with a unique position in the Netherlands. As the registry for .nl, the Dutch top-level domain, SIDN is responsible for the assignment and functional performance of all .nl domain names. That role is very important for the Dutch economy, Dutch society and the social lives of Dutch people. SIDN uses the knowledge and experience gained through its .nl registry role to promote internet use and the interests of the internet in the Netherlands.
What does SIDN do?
SIDN has managed the .nl domain since 1996, thus acting as an important link in the global domain name system. SIDN administers all the domain names that end with '.nl' and ensures that they are always reachable from anywhere on the internet. Contact with the end users of domain names is via a network of more than 1,700 'registrars': often hosting service providers or internet service providers. The reliability and security of the .nl domain are SIDN's top priorities, in support of which the company consistently invests in systems, procedures and people. That policy has continued to prove its value, as the .nl domain is far more secure than any other top-level domain of comparable size. No other top-level domain has nearly as many DNSSEC domain names as .nl, for example. SIDN also works in the interests of .nl at the national and global levels. SIDN is an important discussion partner for the government and an active participant in international forums, such as ICANN, CENTR, RIPE NCC, IETF and IGF.
Is SIDN concerned exclusively with .nl?
SIDN believes that it shares responsibility for a better, more secure and open internet. As well as overseeing the .nl zone, SIDN uses its expertise and knowledge of the internet and digital registration to take the Netherlands forward on line. So, for example, SIDN is to provide technical support for the new top-level domain .amsterdam. The company also carries out research and develops new products and services that contribute to the ongoing expansion of the internet, such as in the field of DNSSEC. For governments and administrators, SIDN is a respected expert organisation and opinion leader on technical, legal and policy matters relating to domain names and the domain name infrastructure. SIDN additionally supports social initiatives that promote internet security and internet use.
Who does SIDN work for?
SIDN works in the interests of the Dutch internet community and Dutch society in general. A strong internet industry serves as the bedrock for innovation and for the increasing welfare and prosperity of the Netherlands. SIDN makes a vital contribution in that context.
What does SIDN wish to achieve?
SIDN believes in a unified global internet, which is open and accessible to all and reflects the global diversity in cultures, languages and scripts. An internet on which freedom of expression, the right of publication and unrestricted access to information are the norm. And an internet on which the responsible user is entitled to feel secure.