The verdict in three sentences
For a freight forwarder, the website exists to capture quote requests your team can price without calling back, whether they come from Rotterdam importers, German shippers or overseas suppliers. In Amsterdam, local agencies typically quote 10,000 to 28,000 EUR for this scope in 2026, while Kolonell's Growth tier costs 1,830 to 3,050 EUR (1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA) with a structured quote form, simple tracking and an English/Dutch or English/French version. Plan on 6 weeks of delivery and an indicative target of 30 to 80 qualified requests per month once SEO is in place.
What a forwarder website must do in 2026
A shipper comparing forwarders usually shortlists three or four companies before trusting one with a container. They want precise answers: transit times via Amsterdam or Rotterdam, lanes served, cargo types, customs documents required. A generic contact form produces incomplete messages, and your sales team loses a day chasing the weight or the Incoterm.
The site therefore has to qualify before the first call. These are the features that matter to a commercial director.
| Feature | Commercial value | Included in Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Structured quote form (origin, final destination, 20' or 40' container, weight, Incoterm, cargo type) | Quote without a callback, 1 to 2 days saved per file | Yes |
| Pages per trade lane (Asia, West Africa, intra-EU road) | Ranking on importers' searches | Yes |
| Bilingual version | Reassures carriers and foreign suppliers | Yes |
| Simple shipment tracking (reference and status) | Fewer where-is-my-container calls | Yes, statuses updated from the back office |
| WhatsApp button and instant email alert | Answer hot requests within 2 h | Yes |
| Full client portal with documents (B/L, invoices, customs entries) | Retains key accounts | No, custom application from 3,810 to 6,100 EUR |
| Connection to a TMS or customs software | Automatic statuses | Quoted after a technical audit |
Growth-tier tracking is deliberately simple: an agent sets the stage (vessel arrived, declaration filed, released, in transit, delivered) and the client checks it with their reference. That covers most needs of a mid-sized forwarder.
2026 budget: Amsterdam market vs Kolonell grid
The Amsterdam figures are market estimates for 2026. The Kolonell figures come from the 11/10/2026 price grid.
| Item | Amsterdam agency (estimate) | Kolonell | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brochure site, 5 pages | 6,000 to 10,000 EUR | 1,220 to 1,830 EUR (Starter) | One-off |
| Site with quote form, tracking, bilingual | 10,000 to 28,000 EUR | 1,830 to 3,050 EUR (Growth) | One-off |
| Advanced SEO, extended lane content | 20,000 EUR and up | 3,050 to 5,340 EUR (Premium) | One-off |
| Maintenance | 150 to 600 EUR | 50, 110 or 180 EUR | Monthly |
| Monthly SEO | 800 to 2,500 EUR | 150, 300 or 530 EUR | Monthly |
| Google Ads campaign setup | 500 to 1,500 EUR | 150 EUR | One-off |
| .nl or .com domain | 10 to 30 EUR | Registrar price | Yearly |
The usual combination for a forwarder chasing inbound demand is Growth, Standard maintenance and SEO Essentiel. The 6-week plan breaks down as one week of scoping and content collection, two weeks of design, two weeks of development, and one week of testing, translation and launch.
Mini case study
Sanne, commercial director of a forwarder in Amsterdam Westpoort (illustrative persona), gets 12 quote requests a month by email and phone, 25% of which become shipments, with an average margin of 280 EUR per file. With a Growth site at 2,440 EUR and monthly SEO, her target is 40 requests a month after six months.
- At a constant conversion rate: 40 × 25% = 10 files, versus 3 today.
- Extra margin: 7 × 280 = 1,960 EUR per month.
- Recurring costs: 110 EUR (Standard maintenance) + 150 EUR (SEO Essentiel) = 260 EUR per month.
- Net monthly gain: 1,700 EUR, so the initial investment is covered in under two months if the volume assumption holds.
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The weakest assumption is request volume: it depends on lane content and response speed, so every source should be measured from month one.
FAQ
How much does a freight forwarder website cost in Amsterdam in 2026?
Local agencies typically quote 10,000 to 28,000 EUR for a site with a structured quote form and tracking. Kolonell's Growth tier covers that core scope for 1,830 to 3,050 EUR, and a 5-page brochure site starts at 1,220 EUR.
How long does it take?
Around 6 weeks for the Growth version if content (lanes, references, warehouse photos) arrives within the first 10 days. A Premium version with extended content takes 8 to 10 weeks.
Can tracking connect to our TMS?
In Growth, statuses are entered in the site's back office. An automatic link to your TMS or a client portal with documents is a custom application, from 3,810 to 6,100 EUR depending on complexity.
How many quote requests can we expect?
As a 2026 order of magnitude, a forwarder ranking well on its key lanes targets 30 to 80 requests a month after 4 to 6 months of SEO. The figure depends heavily on page quality and response time.
Do we need several languages?
Yes as soon as you deal with carriers, Asian suppliers or non-Dutch shippers. A second language is included in Growth with no extra development cost.
Let's scope your project. Send us your trade lanes, monthly file volume and current tools, and we will price a Growth site with structured quotes, indicative budget 1,830 to 3,050 EUR, delivered in 6 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h via our form. 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.
