When does a .nl domain expire and drop?
- Expiry to drop
- 40 days
- Grace
- None
- Redemption
- 40 days
- Pending delete
- None
A cancelled .nl is released about 40 days after cancellation. It goes straight into quarantine: the name stops resolving and only its previous holder can reclaim it through a registrar. If nobody does, it is released and anyone can register it. .nl is the country code of the Netherlands, run by SIDN, and open to register worldwide.
Watch a .nlThe .nl timeline, stage by stage
The single stage a cancelled .nl passes through before release.
| Stage | Window | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Quarantine: about 40 days | Day 0 to 40 after expiry | The name has been cancelled and taken out of the zone, so it no longer resolves. Only its previous holder can reactivate it, through a registrar. At the end of quarantine it is released and open to new registration. This is the stage to act on if you want it. |
| Released: registrable by anyone | From about day 40 | The name leaves the registry's deletion pipeline and returns to the public pool, registrable at the standard price on a first-come basis through any registrar. Availability monitoring exists to catch this moment. |
.nl at a glance
- Registry
- SIDN
- Backend
- SIDN
- Type
- ccTLD
- Country
- Netherlands
- Delegated
- 1986-04-25
- DNSSEC
- Yes
- IDN
- No
- Restrictions
- Open
- Label length
- 2–63 chars
- Redemption
- 40 days
- Expiry to drop
- 40 days
Quarantine, then release
.nl has a single post-cancellation stage. When a registrar cancels a name, it enters quarantine for about 40 days: it is out of the zone and nobody else can register it, but the previous holder can still reactivate it. Then it is released.
There is no grace or pending-delete stage, so a lapsing .nl is free about a month and a half after cancellation, sooner than most generics. Watching the name shows the move into quarantine, which is your signal that release is close.
Who runs .nl, and since when
.nl is the country code of the Netherlands, delegated in 1986 and run by SIDN, one of the earliest country codes and among the largest by registrations.
The registry publishes its quarantine process in its own terms, and our engine re-verifies the stage against the live record rather than assuming it.
How to register a .nl domain
A .nl is open to anyone worldwide with no Dutch presence requirement. It is the default extension for Dutch businesses and widely recognised across the Netherlands.
- Open to anyone, individual or company, with no Dutch presence required.
- Register through an accredited registrar; the registry sells wholesale.
- Labels run from 2 to 63 characters using letters, digits and hyphens; .nl does not offer internationalized names.
- Registration is renewable; a cancelled name enters the quarantine below.
A .nl is cancelled by its registrar rather than simply expiring on a date, so the clock starts at cancellation. Watch a .nl you want so the quarantine does not pass unnoticed.
.nl technical profile
How .nl publishes registration data, secures its zone, and handles non-Latin names.
WHOIS and RDAP
Registration data for every .nl domain is queryable over RDAP at https://rdap.sidn.nl/ and legacy WHOIS at whois.domain-registry.nl, so status, dates and record changes are machine-readable, which is exactly what our monitoring reads.
DNSSEC
The .nl registry supports DNSSEC, so a domain can publish DS records and let resolvers cryptographically validate its DNS answers against tampering.
Internationalized names
The .nl registry does not offer internationalized domain names, so labels are registered in ordinary ASCII letters, digits and hyphens.
- RDAP
- https://rdap.sidn.nl/
- WHOIS
- whois.domain-registry.nl
The registry publishes .nl status over RDAP and WHOIS and signs the zone for DNSSEC, so a name's move into quarantine is visible on the live record.
Is .nl a good domain?
Where .nl fits, and its trade-off.
A Dutch address
For a business serving the Netherlands, .nl is the extension customers expect and trust, often ahead of .com.
Open to everyone
With no residency rule, a foreign company entering the Dutch market can hold its .nl directly.
A short drop cycle
With one quarantine and no pending-delete stage, a cancelled .nl is released quickly, so there is little time to react without a watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about .nl domains.
What is a .nl domain?
.nl is the country code top-level domain of the Netherlands, delegated in 1986 and run by SIDN. It is open to register worldwide.
How long does it take for a cancelled .nl to drop?
About 40 days. A cancelled name enters quarantine straight away, out of the zone but reclaimable by its previous holder; at the end of quarantine it is released and anyone can register it.
Can I get my .nl back during quarantine?
Yes, if you were its holder. Your registrar can reactivate it during quarantine. Once quarantine ends without that, the name is released to anyone.
Do I need to be in the Netherlands to register a .nl?
No. Individuals and companies anywhere can register a .nl through an accredited registrar.