The verdict in three sentences
For an Amsterdam law firm, the choice between a local agency and a remote studio mostly depends on who writes the copy, how much in-person time you need and what the site costs over three years. A local agency typically quotes a 2026 ballpark of 10 000 to 35 000+ EUR for a firm site of 10 to 25 pages, while Kolonell delivers at a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR with a project manager on video calls at hours that suit you. If your practice is mainly Dutch-language litigation with many partners to align in a room, go local; if you serve international clients in English (or English and French) and want a clear fixed scope, a remote studio is usually the better fit.
What does each option cost in Amsterdam?
The ranges below are prudent 2026 ballparks, built from the public rate cards of Dutch agencies, the minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co agency profiles and rates listed on freelance platforms such as Malt and Upwork. They vary widely with scope, and Amsterdam sits at the upper end of Eurozone pricing.
| Option | Build, 2026 ballpark | Typical timeline | Usually included | Support after launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service Amsterdam agency | 12 000 to 35 000+ EUR | 8 to 16 weeks | Strategy workshops, design, development, sometimes Dutch copy | Retainer, quoted separately |
| Smaller local studio | 6 000 to 15 000 EUR | 6 to 10 weeks | Design and development, copy often by the firm | Varies |
| Freelancer (Malt, Upwork) | 2 500 to 9 000 EUR | 4 to 10 weeks | Depends on the person, copy rarely | Ad hoc |
| Kolonell Starter | 2 700 EUR | 3 to 4 weeks | Core pages, native copy, contact form | 3 months |
| Kolonell Growth | 4 500 EUR | 3 to 4 weeks | Practice area and lawyer pages, booking, native copy | 3 months |
| Kolonell Premium | 8 200 EUR | Written schedule, usually 4 to 6 weeks | Full structure, bilingual EN/FR, advanced design | 6 months |
All three tiers are detailed on our international website offer. The domain is registered in the firm's name and every access is handed over at delivery. Payment is by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % to start and 50 % at delivery.
Local agency or remote studio: which criteria really matter?
Price is only one line. The table below compares what actually changes day to day.
| Criterion | Local Amsterdam agency | Remote studio (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|
| Meetings | In person at your office on the Zuidas or in the centre | Google Meet at a time that suits you, written weekly update |
| Time zone | Same | Team based in Senegal (GMT), 1 to 2 hours behind Amsterdam |
| Dutch copy | Often native | Supplied by the firm or quoted separately |
| English or French copy | Varies by agency | Native, included |
| Price | 10 000 to 35 000+ EUR | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 EUR, fixed |
| Timeline | 8 to 16 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium 4 to 6 |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
Go local if you need weekly workshops with a partners' committee, a Dutch-first site written by a Dutch copywriter, or a deep integration with internal systems managed by one supplier on site.
Go remote if you are a boutique or mid-size firm serving expats, founders and international companies (corporate, employment, immigration, real estate, cross-border disputes), if English is your main client language, and if you want a fixed price instead of a time and materials budget. The one-hour gap means calls fit easily into a Dutch working day.
What does an Amsterdam law firm website need?
Whatever the supplier, the brief should cover:
- Practice area pages: one page per area (corporate, employment, immigration, real estate, litigation, family law for internationals), written for the client's question, not the firm's org chart.
- Lawyer profiles: education, admission, languages spoken. Use titles only if the lawyer holds them.
- Languages: English for the international clientele, Dutch for local clients, French if you serve francophone founders. Kolonell writes English and French natively; Dutch is supplied by the firm or quoted separately.
- Intake: a short first-contact form that asks for the matter type and the parties for a conflict check, never confidential details.
- Booking: a link or embed of your existing calendar tool; a custom client portal is quoted on request.
- Data protection and accessibility: the EU GDPR applies to every form and cookie; the European Accessibility Act applies from 28 June 2025 to certain services, and WCAG 2.1 AA is the common reference for accessible pages.
The Dutch Bar's professional conduct rules on advertising exist and must be checked by the firm before publication. This is not legal advice.
How do you compare two quotes without getting caught out?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
| Question to ask | Why it matters | Kolonell's answer |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes the practice area copy? | Copy can take 20 to 30 partner hours | Native English or French copy included |
| How many practice area pages? | Each page is a search entry point | Written into the quote per tier |
| Who owns the domain and hosting? | Without it, switching supplier stalls | In the firm's name from day one |
| What does a change cost after launch? | Hourly billing adds up quickly | Fixed scope, extras quoted |
| Is the client portal a link or a build? | The gap can exceed 10 000 EUR | Link included, custom quoted |
| What support is included? | First tweaks come 2 to 6 weeks in | 3 months, 6 on Premium |
Kolonell has delivered this kind of scope remotely before, for example the bilingual EN/FR site of TR Signing Group (trsigninggroup.com), a notary and apostille service in New Jersey, with quote requests, a booking calendar and a back office.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Eva runs a four-lawyer employment and immigration boutique near the Zuidas, with mostly English-speaking clients. She receives a local agency quote at 16 000 EUR plus 2 000 EUR of copywriting, and a Kolonell Premium quote at 8 200 EUR, bilingual EN/FR copy included, with Dutch pages supplied by her team. Assuming identical hosting at 30 EUR a month and maintenance at 100 EUR a month from month four for both options, the 3-year total is about 22 380 EUR with the agency against 12 580 EUR with Kolonell, a gap of 9 800 EUR, for a launch in about 5 weeks instead of 12.
FAQ
Is a remote studio a risk for a regulated profession?
Not if ownership and process are clear: domain in your name, all access handed over, written weekly updates. The content still has to be checked by the firm against bar rules, whoever builds the site, and the 50 % balance is only paid at delivery.
How do meetings work with a one-hour time difference?
The team is based in Senegal (GMT), 1 to 2 hours behind Amsterdam depending on the season. Calls run on Google Meet at a time that suits you, typically 2 or 3 during the project.
Can Kolonell write our Dutch pages?
No, Kolonell writes natively in English and French only. Dutch translations are supplied by the firm or quoted separately; a bilingual EN/FR site is included from Premium at 8 200 EUR.
What is the cheapest realistic option for a solo lawyer?
A freelancer can start around 2 500 EUR, often without copy. Kolonell Starter at 2 700 EUR includes native copywriting and 3 months of support.
Can you build a secure client portal?
A link to your existing portal is included. A custom portal or document exchange is quoted on request, through the free quote page.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your practice areas, languages and timeline, and we will recommend Starter, Growth or Premium with a launch in 3 to 6 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.
