The verdict in three sentences
For a mid-sized company of 300 to 1,500 employees in the Amsterdam area, a careers site costs 12,000 to 30,000 EUR, plus 2,000 to 6,000 EUR for the ATS connection and 4,000 to 10,000 EUR for employee videos. Delivered in 6 to 10 weeks, it reduces reliance on agencies charging 20 to 25% of annual gross salary per hire. Companies that invest seriously in employer branding cut their cost per application by a factor of 3 within 12 months.
What a careers site costs in 2026
A careers site is not a "Join us" page linking to Indeed. It presents roles, locations, career paths and company culture, with job listings fed automatically from the ATS.
| Level | Deliverables | 2026 budget | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 6 to 10 pages, ATS-fed jobs, role pages, form | 12,000 to 16,000 EUR | 6 weeks |
| Standard | 15 to 25 pages, job families, location pages, testimonials | 16,000 to 23,000 EUR | 7 to 8 weeks |
| Premium | 30+ pages, NL/EN, internships, blog, referrals | 23,000 to 30,000 EUR | 8 to 10 weeks |
| ATS connection (Recruitee, Homerun, Teamtailor) | Job feed, one-click apply | 2,000 to 6,000 EUR | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Employee videos | 4 to 8 portraits of 60 to 90 seconds | 4,000 to 10,000 EUR | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Multi-site photo shoot | 1 to 2 days | 1,500 to 3,000 EUR | 1 to 2 days |
The ATS connection is the key technical piece. Without it, HR re-enters every listing and the site is out of date within 3 months. With an automatic feed, a job published in the ATS appears on the site within an hour, structured for Google for Jobs.
The math against agencies and job boards
A careers site does not replace every source. It shifts part of your hiring to direct channels that cost far less.
| Channel | Indicative 2026 cost | Cost per hire at 60,000 EUR gross | Average time to hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruitment agency | 20 to 25% of annual salary | 12,000 to 15,000 EUR | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Premium job board (annual plan) | 8,000 to 25,000 EUR a year | 1,000 to 2,500 EUR | 5 to 8 weeks |
| LinkedIn Recruiter and sponsored jobs | 9,000 to 16,000 EUR a year per seat | 1,200 to 3,000 EUR | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Careers site and Google for Jobs SEO | Amortized 400 to 800 EUR a month | 400 to 1,000 EUR | 4 to 7 weeks |
| Employee referral via the site | Bonus of 1,000 to 2,500 EUR | 1,000 to 2,500 EUR | 3 to 6 weeks |
Amsterdam's skilled labour market is tight in tech, logistics and engineering, and many candidates are international. An English-first employer brand that highlights the 30% ruling eligibility, hybrid work and internal mobility attracts talent from across Europe.
Content that drives applications
The most viewed pages are role pages with salary ranges, video testimonials and a "Hiring process" page that sets out steps and timelines. The EU Pay Transparency Directive, to be transposed by June 2026, makes salary ranges in job ads close to mandatory, so plan for them now. Add an internships and traineeships page, which often drives 30 to 40% of a mid-sized company's careers site traffic.
Mini case study
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Lotte, HR director of an 850-employee logistics company near Amsterdam, hires 25 professionals a year, 12 of them through agencies at 22% of an average 55,000 EUR salary, or 12 x 12,100 = 145,200 EUR a year. She invests 20,000 EUR in a Standard site, 4,500 EUR in a Recruitee connection and 7,000 EUR in videos, 31,500 EUR in total. After 12 months, agency use drops to 5 hires, or 60,500 EUR. Annual savings: 84,700 EUR, minus 7,200 EUR of maintenance and SEO. Payback in about 5 months, with cost per application down from 120 EUR to 40 EUR.
FAQ
Does the careers site need its own domain?
In most cases no: a subfolder such as company.nl/careers benefits from the main site's authority. A subdomain is only justified if the ATS requires its own hosting.
Which ATS suits a mid-sized company?
Recruitee, Homerun, Teamtailor or Workable cover most needs for 4,000 to 18,000 EUR a year. Check the site is compatible with the chosen ATS API before launch.
How many extra applications should we expect?
A company well indexed on Google for Jobs typically receives 40 to 80% more direct applications within 6 months, with a better role fit.
Are employee videos worth the cost?
Yes if they are short (60 to 90 seconds) and authentic. Job ads with video show 20 to 35% higher application rates than text-only ads.
Must the site comply with GDPR (AVG) for applications?
Yes: clear information, CV retention limited to 4 weeks after the procedure by default under Dutch Data Protection Authority guidance, or 1 year with consent for a talent pool. A correctly configured ATS handles most of this.
Let's scope your project. Share your headcount, hiring volumes and ATS, and we will price the careers site, integration and content, with launch in 6 to 10 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
