The use of privacy or proxy services is not allowed for .nl domain names. A privacy or proxy service is a service used to shield the identity of a user or owner of a domain name. A .nl domain must be registered to the actual owner of the domain.
When registering a domain name, certain details (such as company name and email address) are publicly available in the WHOIS by default. A privacy service hides this information by displaying the details of a middleman instead.
It is therefore also not allowed to register your .nl domain with your registrar or reseller as the domain owner, because this is considered a middleman in the WHOIS.
Why is it not allowed?
The use of a privacy or proxy service makes it difficult to determine who has authority over a domain name. Since the person listed in the WHOIS is legally the owner, in case of a dispute over the domain name, the middleman has authority over the domain name, even though they are not actually the owner.
To prevent such situations, SIDN, the registry for .nl domain names, has decided to prohibit the use of these privacy or proxy services. As an exception, a domain name may temporarily be registered in the name of a registrar or reseller, only if the domain is not active in the DNS.
Another goal of this policy is to reduce domain name abuse. When only an owner is listed in the WHOIS, rather than a middleman, it becomes easier to verify the identity of a domain holder. Because of this it is also not allowed to register a domain in the name of an individual, when the domain is being used for a business. The domain needs to be registered in name of the business in question.
Do you still want to keep your name and email address hidden in the WHOIS and have a valid reason for it? You can request an exception by submitting an opt-out request via SIDN.