The verdict in three sentences
For an immigration and relocation firm website in Brussels, the choice between a local agency and a remote studio turns on three issues: the quality of content in French, Dutch and English, the security of documents your clients send you, and your real need for in-person meetings. With our reference weights the two options are neck and neck (3.80 vs 3.85): a Brussels agency wins if you want on-site workshops and deep integration with your case management tool, a remote studio wins if your scope is clear and your budget is tight. On price, expect €8,000 to €50,000 with a local agency, against €2,700, €4,500 or €8,200 on Kolonell's fixed grid.
Which criteria really separate the two options?
Your clients mix EU institution officials and contract staff, employees of international companies based in Brussels and HR managers handling relocations. They want to understand the steps (single permit, residence, registration at the commune, home and school search), see what your firm handles, then get in touch. Here is a weighted grid, scores 1 to 5, 2026 ballpark:
| Criterion | Weight | Local agency | Remote studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native copy in French, Dutch and English | 20% | 4 | 4 |
| Workshops and in-person meetings | 10% | 5 | 2 |
| Time zone overlap with your team | 10% | 5 | 4 |
| Secure document upload (on quote) | 15% | 4 | 4 |
| Price and budget predictability | 20% | 2 | 5 |
| Domain and code ownership in the contract | 10% | 4 | 4 |
| Maintenance and responsiveness after launch | 15% | 4 | 3 |
| Weighted score | 100% | 3.80 | 3.85 |
A 0.05 gap decides nothing on its own. Double the weight of in-person meetings and the local agency moves ahead; if your procedure pages have already been reviewed by a lawyer, the remote studio pulls ahead. Photography matters little in this sector: a few team portraits and neighbourhood shots are enough.
What does each option cost in Brussels?
2026 ballpark figures from typical quotes and public rate pages of Brussels agencies; ranges, not a survey.
| Option | Build budget | Languages | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | €2,500 to €7,000 | Often one or two, translation extra | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Small Brussels agency | €8,000 to €25,000 | FR and EN, NL often an option | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Established agency, trilingual, client area | €25,000 to €50,000 | FR, NL, EN | 12 to 20 weeks |
| Kolonell Starter | €2,700 | See the quote | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | €4,500 | See the quote | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) | €8,200 | Languages set in the quote | 3 to 4 weeks |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable on Brussels time, native French or English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. Dutch proofreading by an independent translator remains a third-party cost, often €0.10 to €0.20 per word. On quote: secure document upload, a client area for case tracking and any integration with your management software. Tier details are on the international offer page.
When is a local agency clearly the better choice?
To be honest: a Brussels agency is preferable if you want a custom client area where families upload passports, employment contracts and civil status documents, with regular workshops at your offices in the European Quarter or Ixelles. It is also the better fit if you answer corporate tenders that require a supplier established in Belgium, or if your management wants to meet the team every week. A remote studio is enough for a clear services site: procedures explained, relocation packages, pages by profile (EU official, posted worker, family), a first contact form and appointment booking.
What does the sector and the Belgian frame require?
Careful wording. The single permit combines a work authorisation, handled by the Regions, and residence, with the Immigration Office (Office des étrangers): describe these steps in general terms and date your pages. Display no guarantee of outcome and no promised processing time. Legal advice on immigration law is reserved for authorised professionals: if your firm is not a law firm, say clearly what you do (administrative support, relocation) and what you refer to a partner lawyer.
Data protection. The GDPR applies, overseen by the Belgian Data Protection Authority. Your forms touch sensitive data (nationality, family situation, sometimes health or criminal records): collect the minimum at first contact, never request documents through an unencrypted form, set a retention period and sign a processing agreement with the provider and the host. Non-essential cookies stay off until consent.
Accessibility. Aim for WCAG 2.1 AA, ideally 2.2 AA: your audience often reads in a language that is not their own, so clarity and structure count double. This is not legal advice.
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Questions to ask both types of provider: who holds the domain and the code? Who writes and who proofreads the Dutch? Where are form submissions stored? What is the response time in September, the peak of arrivals?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Sofie Peeters runs "Maison Etterbeek Relocation", six consultants supporting arrivals for EU institutions and international companies. Local quote received: €28,000 for a trilingual site with a client area. Chosen option: Premium at €8,200 (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote), plus €1,400 of Dutch proofreading by an independent translator for 9,000 words at €0.155 (third-party cost), so €9,600. The client area is postponed and priced on quote for the following year. Immediate saving: €18,400. If the site brings two extra corporate contracts a year at €6,000 each, the project pays for itself in the first year.
FAQ
Can a remote studio write in Dutch?
Kolonell writes natively in French or English; Dutch goes through an independent translator, a third-party cost of about €0.10 to €0.20 per word. Many Brussels agencies work the same way.
Is document upload included?
A first contact form is included from Starter at €2,700. Secure upload of passports and contracts, with encryption and a retention period, stays on quote.
Can we display success rates?
Avoid promises: every case depends on the administration. If you publish a figure, it must be verifiable, dated and scoped, for example 120 cases supported in 2025.
How long until launch?
Plan on 3 to 4 weeks once texts are approved, versus 8 to 20 weeks with a local agency. Launch before summer to be ready for September arrivals.
Who should own the domain name?
Your firm, with admin access. Write into the contract the handover of code and content, including translations paid to third parties.
To compare on your own case, request a free quote with your languages, client profiles and document upload needs.
Let's scope your project. An immigration and relocation website in Brussels, €4,500 to €8,200, languages set in the quote, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
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.