What is a Registrar? Your gateway to domain names

What is a Registrar?

A registrar (also called domain registrar or domain seller) is a company accredited by ICANN or a registry to sell domain names to end users. When you want to start a website, the registrar is the company where you buy your domain name.

How does a registrar work?

A registrar forms the link between you and the registry. The process works as follows:

1. You search for a domain name at the registrar
2. The registrar checks if the domain is available at the registry
3. Upon registration the registrar sends your details to the registry
4. The registry adds the domain to the central database
5. You get access to domain management at the registrar

Registrar vs Registry: the difference

You can compare this to a car manufacturer (registry) and a car dealer (registrar). The manufacturer makes the cars, but you buy them at the dealer.

Accreditation: not everyone can sell domains

To act as a registrar, a company must be accredited:

• For .nl domains: Accreditation by SIDN
• For .com/.net: Accreditation by ICANN
• For .eu domains: Accreditation by EURid
• For .be domains: Accreditation by DNS Belgium

The Netherlands has over 100 SIDN-accredited registrars, including most well-known hosting providers.

What does a registrar do exactly?

A registrar offers various services:

Domain registration

• Checking domain name availability
• Registering new domains
• Renewing domains (usually annually)
• Transferring domains from other registrars

Domain management

• Adjusting DNS settings
• Changing nameservers
• Activating DNSSEC
• Managing WHOIS data

Additional services

• WHOIS privacy (hiding your details)
• Domain parking
• Email forwarding
• SSL certificates

What to look for when choosing a registrar?

Not all registrars are equal. Pay attention to these points:

1. Prices and hidden costs

• First year vs. renewal: Some registrars lure with low first-year prices but charge much more on renewal
• Transfer costs: What does it cost to move your domain?
• Extras: Are WHOIS privacy and DNSSEC free?

2. User-friendliness

• Is the control panel clear?
• Can you easily manage DNS records?
• Is there an API for automation?

3. Customer service

• Dutch support available?
• Response time for problems?
• Phone support?

4. Reliability

• How long has the company existed?
• What are the reviews from other customers?
• Does the company have a good reputation?

Well-known registrars in the Netherlands

Most hosting providers in the Netherlands are also registrars:

Moving domain to another registrar

You are not bound to one registrar forever. Moving is possible:

1. Request an authorization code from your current registrar
2. Start the transfer at your new registrar
3. Confirm the move via email
4. Wait 5-7 days until the transfer is complete

Note: a domain must be registered for at least 60 days before you can move.

Choosing a registrar: our tip

When choosing a registrar, we recommend looking at the complete picture. On our comparison page you can compare hosting providers (who are also registrars) on:

• Domain prices
• Hosting quality
• Customer service
• User reviews

This way you find a party that handles both your domain and your hosting well.