Domain name checking and registration in Europe

When you start an online shop, choose an available domain name and register it immediately. Use words that customers will understand right away, such as 'baby clothes' or 'smartphone cases'. Do you mainly sell abroad? Then make sure your customers can easily read and pronounce your domain name. This prevents misunderstandings and saves you having to explain.

What is a domain name? 

A domain name is a unique address on the Internet and has 2 parts. The  name and the extension. Together these make up the URL. The first part is the name of your shop or website. You choose this name yourself and it is often based on products or names. Your own name, your company name, or your brand name. For example, Roth Construction or Garter Media. 

The second part is the extension, the part after the dot. The extension indicates the country in which you sell your products or services. For example, .nl, .de or .fr. This part helps with findability in national search engines. So choose a combination that suits your target group.

Your domain name is not allowed to infringe on the trademark or trade name rights of another company. A similar name can also cause problems. It confuses your customers and can undermine your trustworthiness.  Imagine if there were multiple construction companies named Roth in the same area and one company gets bad press. Your customers will not be able to tell which Roth Construction is trustworthy and which one is not. You do not want to run such a risk with your business.

Checking domain names 

You buy domain names from the organisation charged with managing domain names in the country in question. First, find out which foreign organisation this is. For example, via the internet or through a sector organisation for online shops in that country.

You buy and register your domain name through this organisation. The organisation will let you check whether the domain name you have in mind is still free. To check, use the WHOIS search on the website of the organisation that manages extensions.

If your chosen name already exists, you can buy or claim an existing domain name or choose a different extension. To find out how, read our article on what to do if your domain name has been taken. 

Registering your domain name 

Stichting Internet Domeinregistratie Nederland (SIDN) registers domain names in the Netherlands. A registrar takes care of registering your domain name with the organisation that manages domain names. A registrar is also known as a hosting provider. This is a business that offers internet services.

Dutch registrars often also register domain names abroad. The costs depend on how long your registration is for and any associated services you purchase from a provider, such as web hosting.

Choose your domain name extension 

The extension is the part of a domain name that follows the full stop. This is also known as a top-level domain, or TLD. It allows you to specify which target audience in which country you wish to reach. 
There are now more than 1,500 extensions available. The most important ones are listed below.

 Country specific

Country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are associated with a specific country or region. According to SIDN (in Dutch), customers are more likely to buy products from online shops with a domain extension that they are familiar with.

Do you want to target sales in one or more European countries? If so, choose a country extension. For example:

• .nl for the Netherlands
• .uk for the United Kingdom
• .be for Belgium
• .de for Germany

 Search engines like Google will increase your findability . Dutch hosting providers can help you set up domain names with non-Dutch extensions, too. 

General extensions

You can also choose a general international extension such as .com, .net, .eu or .org. 

.eu 

Companies that primarily operate in Europe often pick a .eu extension, because it lets them target multiple European countries at once. Domain names with an .eu extension will give your online shop a European look and feel.

The European Registry of Internet Domain Names (EURid) now manages all .eu domain names. Registering your domain name consists of 2 steps. First, visit the website and check the availability of your domain name. EURid will not give you a list of similar names that are available if your preferred name is already taken. Next, have an accredited registrar register your domain name. Both companies and private citizens can register a domain name. 

.com 

A .com extension gives your website an international imagel and is one of the most commonly registered extensions. 

All .com domain names are managed by an American company called VeriSign. Use the search bar on the website to check the availability of your domain name. In addition to information about availability, you will also get a list of other available domain names.

Under 'Find a registrar‘, you can see a list of possible registrars to choose from based on your location. You do not have to meet specific requirements to register a .com domain: it is open to all. 

.net 

After .com domains, domain names with a .net extension are the most commonly registered domains worldwide. Originally, this domain extension was intended for international networks, but since the administrator of the .net extension has lifted these restrictions, both private citizens and companies can register .net domain names.

If .com is taken, a .net domain is a good alternative, because it gives you the same international visibility as .com. VeriSign manages the registration of domain names with a .net extension. 

.org 

The .org extension was originally intended for non-profit organisations with a specific target audience. Many .com domain names have already been taken, and because of this scarcity, private citizens, commercial, and non-commercial businesses can now also register .org domain names. This extension is not tied to a specific country and can be used internationally. 

All .org domain names are managed by an American organisation called the Public Interest Registry (PIR). You can use ‘WHOIS LOOKUP’ to check the availability of your preferred domain name. You will still have to find an accredited registrar to register your domain name.

For Dutch businesses, .nl and .com or .eu are often the most logical choices. Registering both options is a smart move if you sell, or plan to sell, internationally. This means  you can protect your online shop’s name in several countries at once.

Domain name fraud 

Business owners are often targeted by domain name fraudsters. Scammers may use aggressive sales tactics to get you to register your domain name with another extension. Read our article Domain name scams? Do not fall for them and protect yourself.