The verdict in three sentences
For an Amsterdam architecture firm, a local agency is the better choice when the site must be Dutch-first, when you want the agency to direct photography and film on your buildings, or when partners expect workshops around one table. A remote studio such as Kolonell fits when the portfolio, project texts and inquiry path matter more than on-site production, with a fixed price of 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR and English copy written natively. Decide with a criteria table and a three-year cost, not with the first agency showreel that impresses you.
Which criteria actually separate a local agency from a remote studio?
Most Amsterdam practices run two languages side by side: competitions, international clients and staff work in English, while municipal clients, housing associations (woningcorporaties) and private homeowners often expect Dutch. That single fact weighs more in the choice than design taste.
| Criterion | Amsterdam agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell (remote) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical presence | Meetings in your studio, site visits possible | Often flexible, depends on the person | None: Google Meet calls at your hour, written update every week |
| Photo and film on site | Often organised or subcontracted | Sometimes, if also a photographer | Not offered: you supply images or book a local architectural photographer |
| Time zone | Same | Same | Team in Senegal (GMT), one to two hours behind Amsterdam depending on season |
| Price, 2026 order of magnitude | 12 000 to 45 000 EUR and more | 3 000 to 12 000 EUR | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 EUR, fixed |
| Usual lead time | 10 to 16 weeks | 6 to 12 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Languages | Dutch and English, often native | Mostly Dutch, English varies | Native English or French; Dutch supplied by you or quoted separately |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
| Support after launch | Separate maintenance contract | Case by case | 3 months, 6 in Premium |
These ranges are cautious. They draw on public price pages of Dutch agencies, minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates published by Amsterdam studios (often 90 to 150 EUR per hour) and rates visible on Malt and Upwork. The formulas are detailed in our international website offer.
When is an Amsterdam agency the right call?
Let's be direct: in several situations a local agency is worth its higher price.
- Your main clients are Dutch: housing associations, municipalities, private developers. A Dutch-first site written by native copywriters justifies the gap.
- You want art direction of the images: a photo campaign across several completed buildings, drone shots, a film of an office-to-housing conversion.
- You are also redesigning the identity: logo, typography, signage, competition boards. A local design agency handles the whole set.
- Partners want to review on paper, together, in the studio. Video calls do not always replace that culture.
- You need a heavy tool: a tender library, an extranet for sharing drawings with clients. That is a custom application; Kolonell quotes it, but proximity helps for scoping workshops.
When does a remote studio like Kolonell fit?
- The firm works mostly in English: international competitions, foreign developers, expatriate private clients.
- The images already exist and your photographers' licence covers web use.
- The budget must be fixed upfront: bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff, 50 % on delivery.
- The calendar is tight: a site live before an exhibition, an award submission or a competition result.
Our limits are clear: no on-site shoot, no in-person meetings, and Dutch copy must be supplied or quoted separately.
| Element | Starter 2 700 EUR | Growth 4 500 EUR | Premium 8 200 EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project pages | Up to 8 selected projects | Filterable index (typology, status, year) | Full archive, project narratives, research section |
| Practice and team | Studio page | Profile per partner with registration details | Detailed profiles, awards and publications you supply |
| Inquiry path | Contact form | Brief form sorted by project type | Brief, careers and press areas |
| Bilingual version | No | No | FR/EN included; Dutch supplied or quoted separately |
| Lead time | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written schedule at kickoff, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
| Support after launch | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
A client portal for drawings or a project management intranet is a custom application, quoted separately, as is ongoing SEO work.
What does an Amsterdam architecture website need?
Practices in the city work on office-to-housing transformations, timber and circular construction, infill on narrow plots in the historic centre and changing districts such as Amsterdam-Noord or the Zuidas. Clients compare references before the first call, often on a phone.
- Filterable projects by typology and status: competition, in progress, completed.
- Complete credits: partners, engineering firms, photographers.
- Accurate titles: in the Netherlands the title of architect is protected by the Wet op de architectentitel and reserved for people listed in the Architectenregister. The site should show who is registered and never present a designer as an architect.
- Verified photo rights: architectural photographers often license per use; check that web and social media are covered and that the credit is displayed.
- A careers page for very international recruitment.
- Heavy images optimised so pages stay fast on mobile.
On compliance, the GDPR applies under the supervision of the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, and non-essential cookies require consent under the Dutch Telecommunications Act. The European Accessibility Act, applicable since 28 June 2025, mainly targets certain products and services, but WCAG 2.2 AA remains a sensible technical target, especially as public clients increasingly ask for it. This is not legal advice.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Which questions should you ask before signing?
- Who writes the Dutch and English texts, and are both native?
- Will the domain, hosting and CMS be in our name?
- How many projects can we add ourselves at no cost?
- How are high-resolution photos compressed for mobile?
- What does maintenance cost after the support period?
- Can the site display register numbers correctly?
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Joost V., partner in a 12-person Amsterdam practice, works mostly for international developers and two housing associations. A local agency quotes 28 000 EUR, including a 3 500 EUR three-day photo campaign, delivered in 14 weeks.
The other route combines Kolonell Premium at 8 200 EUR (English and French site), an independent Dutch translator at 1 400 EUR and the same photographer booked directly for 3 500 EUR: 13 100 EUR. With an identical maintenance assumption of 150 EUR per month over 33 months, 4 950 EUR on each side, the three-year cost is 32 950 EUR against 18 050 EUR: a 14 900 EUR gap. Joost picks the second route and keeps the local agency in mind if social housing becomes the bulk of his order book.
FAQ
Is a remote studio realistic without meeting in person?
Yes, if project images and texts exist. Kolonell works with a Google Meet kickoff call, a written update every week and delivery in 3 to 4 weeks; if partners insist on workshops in the studio, a local agency is the better fit.
How much does an architecture firm website cost in Amsterdam in 2026?
As an order of magnitude, 12 000 to 45 000 EUR and more with a local agency, 3 000 to 12 000 EUR with a freelancer. Kolonell charges 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR at a fixed price.
Can Kolonell deliver a Dutch-language site?
Native copywriting is in English or French. Dutch texts are supplied by you or quoted separately, for example around 1 000 to 1 500 EUR with an independent translator for a mid-sized site.
Who organises the project photography?
You, or a local architectural photographer you book. Kolonell integrates the images and checks with you that the licence covers the web; budget often 1 500 to 4 000 EUR for a campaign across several buildings.
What support comes after launch?
Three months included in Starter and Growth, six months in Premium. Maintenance beyond that is quoted separately.
Let's scope your project. Send us your project list, the images you own and the languages you need, and we will propose a fixed-price formula with launch in 3 to 4 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.
