Theory7 is an accredited EURid registrar
Register your .eu domain name directly with an officially accredited EURid registrar
- Officially accredited by EURid
- Direct .eu registration with no middlemen
- Full control over your domain data
- .eu domain name from €1.99 per year
Benefits of an accredited EURid registrar
Officially accredited by EURid
Theory7 is accredited by EURid (European Registry for Internet Domains) as a registrar for .eu domain names. We have a direct connection to the .eu registry and process all registrations without middlemen.
A European look for your brand
A .eu domain conveys a European identity and is ideal for businesses active in multiple EU countries. It's the digital equivalent of the European flag next to your company name.
No reseller markups
Because we work directly with EURid, you don't pay a middleman markup. You can register your .eu domain name with us from just €1.99 per year, excluding VAT.
Fast registration and transfers
As a direct EURid registrar, we process registrations and transfers faster than resellers. Your .eu domain is typically registered and active within minutes.
DNSSEC and IDN support
Every .eu domain at Theory7 is secured with DNSSEC. We also support internationalized domain names (IDN) with special characters such as ë, ü, and ñ.
Knowledgeable support
Our support team knows the EURid procedures and helps you with any questions about .eu domain registration, transfers, DNS configuration, and resolving disputes.
Start with your own domain name
Instantly check whether your desired domain name is still available
Registration policy and requirements for .eu domain names
Unlike generic extensions such as .com, the .eu domain has specific registration requirements. EURid maintains a strict policy on who can register a .eu domain name. This policy has been relaxed over the years, but important conditions still apply.
Who can register a .eu domain?
- Individuals: any natural person who is a resident of an EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway can register a .eu domain.
- Companies: any business with a registered office, central administration, or principal place of business in the EU can register a .eu domain.
- Organizations: foundations, associations, and government bodies in the EU are equally eligible.
After Brexit in 2020, holders from the United Kingdom lost their .eu domain names. This underlines the importance of the EU establishment requirement. As a Dutch business or resident of the Netherlands, you automatically meet the requirements. Register your .eu domain via the domain name registration page at Theory7 and benefit from direct registration with an accredited EURid registrar.
.eu domain and hosting plans
.eu domain from €1.98/year, including DNSSEC
- .eu domain name registration
- Free DNSSEC security
- Free WHOIS privacy
- DNS management via DirectAdmin
- Free domain transfer to Theory7
- Free .eu domain name (1st year)
- 1GB NVMe SSD storage
- LiteSpeed Enterprise web server
- Free SSL certificate
- Daily backups
- Free .eu domain name (1st year)
- 5GB NVMe SSD storage
- LiteSpeed Enterprise web server
- Free SSL certificate
- Host 3 websites
Transferring a .eu domain to Theory7: how it works
Transferring an existing .eu domain to Theory7 is a simple process. As an accredited EURid registrar, we process the transfer quickly and at no cost. Your website and email stay reachable throughout the entire process.
Transfer process in 4 steps:
- Request an authorization code: request a transfer code from your current registrar. This is a unique code that proves you're the domain holder.
- Start the transfer at Theory7: enter the authorization code during our order process. We send the transfer request directly to EURid.
- Confirmation by EURid: EURid verifies the code and processes the transfer. This usually takes a few hours to a maximum of 5 business days.
- Management at Theory7: your .eu domain is now registered at Theory7. Manage your DNS, name servers, and contact details via our control panel.
Tip: consider taking out a hosting plan at the same time as the transfer. That way, your domain and hosting are with the same provider, which simplifies management. With annual billing, you also get a free domain name for the first year.
Frequently asked questions about EURid and .eu domains
EURid (European Registry for Internet Domains) is the official registry that manages the .eu domain. EURid was established in 2003 by the European Commission and manages the central database of all .eu domain names. Like SIDN for .nl, EURid doesn't register domains directly for end users. That's handled by accredited registrars such as Theory7.
A EURid registrar is a company accredited by EURid to register and manage .eu domain names. An accredited registrar has a direct technical connection to the .eu registry (via the EPP protocol) and must meet strict operational and financial requirements set by EURid. Theory7 is officially accredited and registers .eu domains directly in the EURid registry.
A .eu domain name can be registered by individuals who are residents of an EU member state, or by companies and organizations established in the EU. After Brexit, residents and businesses from the United Kingdom can no longer register .eu domains. The Netherlands, Belgium, and all other EU countries remain eligible.
You can register a .eu domain name at Theory7 from €1.99 per year, excluding VAT. DNSSEC security is included as standard at no extra cost. When you take out a hosting plan with annual billing, you get a free domain name for the first year.
Yes, transferring your .eu domain to Theory7 is free. You request an authorization code from your current registrar and enter it at Theory7. We send the transfer request directly to EURid. The transfer process typically takes a few hours to a maximum of 5 business days. Your website and email stay reachable throughout the transfer.
A .nl domain name is the Netherlands' country code and is managed by SIDN. A .eu domain name is the European Union's extension and is managed by EURid. The .nl extension is ideal if you focus exclusively on the Dutch market. A .eu domain is more suitable if you want a European presence or operate in multiple EU countries. Many companies register both extensions. At Theory7, you're with an accredited registrar for both extensions.
Yes, Theory7 is both a SIDN registrar (.nl) and a EURid registrar (.eu). You can manage both extensions from the same account, which significantly simplifies oversight and management. Many customers register their brand name with both .nl and .eu to protect their online presence.
Yes, EURid fully supports DNSSEC for all .eu domain names. DNSSEC adds a cryptographic signature to your DNS records, allowing the authenticity of DNS responses to be verified. At Theory7, DNSSEC is automatically enabled with every .eu registration, at no extra cost or configuration.
What does it mean that Theory7 is an accredited EURid registrar?
EURid (European Registry for Internet Domains) is the official manager of all .eu domain names. This organization was established in 2003 by the European Commission to manage the .eu domain as Europe's digital identity. Like SIDN for .nl, EURid doesn't register domains directly for end users itself. That's handled exclusively via accredited registrars. Theory7 is one such accredited EURid registrar, which means you register your .eu domain name directly at the source with us.
Many domain name providers in the Netherlands sell .eu domain names as resellers: they buy domains from a registrar and sell them on with a markup. As an accredited registrar, Theory7 has a direct technical connection (EPP connection) to the EURid registry. Every registration, renewal, and transfer happens without intermediate steps, which is faster, cheaper, and more reliable. Research from the Uptime Institute shows that 99.9% uptime is the industry standard for professional hosting. According to Google, load time is a crucial ranking factor for websites.
Benefits of a .eu domain with an accredited registrar
Registering your .eu domain name with an accredited EURid registrar like Theory7 brings concrete benefits. These benefits are directly noticeable in the day-to-day management of your domain name.
Direct registration in the EURid registry
When you register a .eu domain at Theory7, your request is sent directly to the EURid system. There's no third party that needs to forward the request. Your domain is therefore registered and active faster. With a reseller, the registration process can take longer because the request first has to go through their registrar.
Lower costs with no middlemen
A reseller pays a registration margin to its registrar and adds its own markup on top. As an accredited registrar, we only pay the EURid registration fees. We pass that saving on: a .eu domain name costs just €1.99 per year at Theory7. Check all available extensions on our register a domain name page.
Full control and ownership
With some resellers, your .eu domain is registered in the reseller's name instead of your own. At Theory7, you're always registered as the registrant (holder) in the EURid registry. You have full control over your contact details, name servers, and authorization codes. Changes are processed immediately without any third-party involvement.
Who is a .eu domain name suitable for?
The .eu extension is the digital identity of the European Union and suits a wide range of users. Registering a .eu domain is open to residents and businesses in all EU member states. A .eu domain is particularly suitable for the following situations:
- Businesses active in multiple EU countries: a .eu domain transcends national borders and gives a pan-European presence that fits international ambitions.
- Dutch businesses with Belgian customers: many Dutch hosting customers also serve the Belgian market. A .eu domain appeals to both Dutch and Belgian audiences.
- Brand protection: alongside your .nl domain, you register your brand name as .eu to prevent others from doing so.
- European projects and organizations: partnerships, grant-funded projects, and European initiatives logically choose a .eu address.
- Multilingual websites: a .eu domain is language-neutral and works well with multilingual websites targeting different European markets.
Check right away whether your desired .eu domain name is still available via our domain name checker. You'll see within seconds whether the domain is free and can register it immediately.
EURid registrar vs reseller: the difference
The .eu domain registration chain works similarly to that of .nl domains, but with EURid instead of SIDN as the registry. The three levels are:
- Registry (EURid): manages the .eu registry, the central database of all .eu domain names.
- Registrar (e.g. Theory7): accredited by EURid, with direct EPP access to the registry.
- Reseller: buys .eu domains from a registrar and resells them to end customers.
The difference is most noticeable with domain transfers. If you want to transfer a .eu domain from a reseller to another provider, the reseller first has to request the authorization code from its registrar, who then retrieves it from EURid. With a direct registrar like Theory7, this happens in a single step. The same applies to changes to contact details and name servers: direct processing versus forwarding through a middleman.
Combine .eu and .nl with the same registrar
Theory7 is accredited by both SIDN and EURid. That makes us one of the few Dutch hosting providers where you manage both .nl and .eu domains with a direct registrar. The advantage is that all your domains are managed from a central dashboard, with the same login, the same DNS interface, and the same support team.
Many companies choose to register their brand name with multiple extensions. By registering both companyname.nl and companyname.eu, you protect your brand and prevent competitors or cybersquatters from claiming these domains. Read more about our domain registration options or read how we also act as a SIDN registrar for .nl domains.
Combining a .eu domain with reliable hosting
A domain name alone isn't enough to get your website online. You also need hosting. At Theory7, you can easily combine your .eu domain registration with a hosting plan. Our web hosting plans run on LiteSpeed Enterprise web servers with NVMe SSD storage, including a free SSL certificate and daily backups.
When you take out a hosting plan with annual billing, you get a free domain name for the first year. You can also choose optimized WordPress hosting if you want to run a WordPress website on your .eu domain. All plans come with Dutch servers, so your website loads quickly for visitors from the Benelux and the rest of Europe.
Looking for a .be domain for the Belgian market? Theory7 is also accredited as a DNS.BE registrar for .be domain names. That way, you can serve the entire Benelux from a single hosting provider.
EURid: the European registry behind the .eu domain
EURid (European Registry for Internet Domains) is the non-profit organization appointed by the European Commission in 2003 to manage the .eu domain. EURid's headquarters is located in Brussels, with additional offices in Prague, Stockholm, and Pisa. The organization manages the central registry of all .eu and .ею (Cyrillic) domain names.
As a non-profit organization, EURid has no profit motive. Revenue from domain registrations is reinvested in the stability, security, and development of the .eu ecosystem. EURid regularly audits accredited registrars to ensure they meet the technical and operational requirements. Theory7 meets all these criteria and has a direct, secure EPP connection to the EURid registry.
EURid distinguishes itself from other registries with a strong focus on privacy and transparency. The organization publishes annual reports on the .eu domain, including detailed statistics on registrations, renewals, and disputes. EURid also invests in awareness campaigns about internet safety and digital literacy within the European Union.
The .eu domain market in numbers
The .eu domain has more than 3.6 million registered domain names, making it one of Europe's larger top-level domains. The .eu extension has been available since 2006, first for companies and organizations, shortly after also for individuals. Since then, it has become an established choice for European businesses that want to emphasize their pan-European identity.
The distribution of .eu registrations across EU member states shows interesting patterns. Germany, the Netherlands, and France are traditionally the largest markets for .eu domains. The Netherlands is among the top 5 countries with the most .eu registrations per capita, which indicates that Dutch businesses understand the value of a European domain extension.
Although Brexit in 2020 led to the loss of registrations from the United Kingdom, the total number of .eu domains has remained stable. New registrations from other EU member states more than compensate for the loss. For Dutch businesses operating internationally, .eu remains a strategically valuable extension alongside their .nl domain name.
Benefits of .eu for European businesses
A .eu domain name offers specific benefits for businesses operating within the European Union or targeting European customers. These benefits go beyond just an internet address: a .eu domain is a strategic tool for brand positioning and market reach.
First, a .eu domain conveys a pan-European identity. Unlike a country code such as .nl or .de, which you directly associate with a specific country, .eu is language-neutral and cross-border. This is particularly valuable for businesses active in multiple EU countries that don't want to be tied to a single country.
Second, a .eu domain offers better availability of desired names. With 3.6 million registrations, .eu is considerably smaller than .com (over 150 million) or .nl (6.2 million). The chance that your desired company name or descriptive domain name is still available is therefore greater. Check availability via our domain name checker.
Third, a .eu registration offers legal protection under European regulations. The .eu domain falls under the European GDPR regulation, and EURid applies strict privacy rules to WHOIS data. This gives you as a domain holder more control over your personal data than is the case with many other extensions.
Registration policy for .eu: who's eligible?
The .eu domain has specific registration requirements set out in European regulations. Not everyone can register a .eu domain name. You must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- EU citizenship: any natural person with the nationality of an EU member state, regardless of country of residence
- EU resident: any natural person residing in an EU member state, regardless of nationality
- EU establishment: any business or organization with a registered office, central administration, or principal place of business in the EU
- EEA resident: residents of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway are equally eligible
After Brexit in January 2020, holders from the United Kingdom who didn't meet one of the above criteria lost their .eu domain names. This highlights that EURid takes and enforces the registration requirements seriously. As a Dutch business or Dutch resident, you automatically meet the requirements and can register a .eu domain at Theory7 without any issues.
WHOIS and privacy for .eu domain names
EURid was one of the first registries to fully implement the European privacy regulation (GDPR) in the WHOIS system for .eu domains. This means domain holders' personal data is shielded by default in public WHOIS lookups. Only the registrar's name and technical information such as name servers and registration date are publicly visible.
At Theory7, your .eu domain is registered in your name as the holder in the EURid registry. Your contact details are secured in accordance with GDPR and aren't displayed publicly. If you still want certain details to be visible, for example for business transparency, you can configure this via your control panel.
The difference with many other extensions is significant. With .com domains (managed by Verisign), privacy rules are less strict and it's often necessary to separately purchase a WHOIS privacy service. With .eu, privacy is included by default at no extra cost, in line with European values around data protection.
.eu versus .com versus country-code TLDs: a comparison
When choosing a domain name, businesses often face a choice between a .eu domain, a .com domain, or a country code such as .nl or .be. Each type of extension has its own pros and cons, depending on your target audience and business strategy.
A .com domain is the global standard and is recognized by everyone. The downside is that availability is limited: many desired names are already taken. Additionally, .com doesn't send a geographic signal to search engines, so you need extra effort for local SEO.
A country-code TLD such as .nl or .be sends a strong local signal. Search engines recognize the extension and give a slight advantage for searches from that specific country. The downside is that a country code associates you with a single country, which can be limiting if you're active in multiple countries.
A .eu domain sits in between. It gives a European signal that's broader than a country code, but more specific than .com. Google treats .eu as a generic TLD (gTLD) with geo-targeting options, meaning you can set which country or region you're targeting via Google Search Console. This makes .eu flexible for both pan-European and country-specific purposes.
The ideal strategy for many businesses is to register multiple extensions. At Theory7, you register .nl, .eu, and .be with the same accredited registrar. You manage all your domains from a central dashboard, which significantly simplifies oversight and management. Check all available extensions on our register a domain name page.
Domain transfer with an accredited EURid registrar
Transferring an existing .eu domain to Theory7 is a standardized process set out by EURid. As an accredited registrar, we process incoming transfers quickly and at no cost to the customer.
The transfer process starts with requesting an authorization code from your current registrar. This code is unique per domain and proves you're the rightful holder. With some registrars, you can request the code directly via your control panel; with others, you need to contact support. If your current provider is a reseller, requesting the code can take longer because it first has to be requested via the parent registrar.
Once you have the authorization code, you enter it at Theory7 during our order process. We send the transfer request directly to EURid via our EPP connection. EURid verifies the code and processes the transfer. This usually takes a few hours to a maximum of five business days. Your website and email remain reachable throughout the entire process.
After the transfer is complete, you manage your .eu domain entirely through Theory7. You can change DNS records, adjust name servers, and update contact details, all directly via our control panel. As an accredited registrar, all these changes are processed without delay in the EURid registry. Combine your domain with one of our hosting plans for a complete solution with domain, hosting, and SSL certificate from a single provider.
Sources and references
- SIDN: sidn.nl
- ICANN: icann.org
- Verisign: verisign.com
- EURid: eurid.eu
