Local agency or remote studio for a private or international school website in Brussels: how to choose (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

For a private or international school in Brussels, the website's main job is converting expat and local families: enquiry, visit, then application, often in French, English and sometimes Dutch. A local agency makes sense if you want regular photo and video coverage on campus, in-person workshops with leadership and the board, or deep integration with your school management system. For a clear site with programme pages, fees, events and an admissions form, a remote studio in the same time zone is often enough, provided the contract settles domain ownership and how pupil images are handled.

Which criteria matter for a Brussels school?

Test each candidate with one precise question: how would you present an IB track and a British track side by side, with fees and admission dates, without overwhelming parents? The answer shows whether they understand an admissions funnel.

What does each option cost over three years?

The amounts below are a 2026 ballpark based on public agency rate pages and typical agency quotes in Brussels for school websites of 20 to 50 pages.

The Kolonell grid (Starter €2,700, Growth €4,500, Premium €8,200) includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native French or English copywriting and 3 months of support. A parent portal or school management system integration is on quote, as is search optimisation work. Package details are on the international website offer page.

When is a local agency the better choice?

• You want photo and video coverage every term, from a team that already knows the campus and its safety procedures.
• The site must sync with admissions and fee billing software.
• The board requires in-person presentations at every stage.
• You are launching a pupil recruitment campaign at the same time, with outdoor ads and fairs.

If what you need is a fast, clear, trilingual site with a simple admissions funnel, a remote studio is enough.

What school-specific requirements should you set?

Safeguarding and images. No identifiable pupil photo without written parental consent, with a consent register and the option to withdraw. Write into the contract that the provider never reuses these images, including in its own portfolio.

Pupil data. In Belgium, the GDPR applies alongside the Law of 30 July 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data, supervised by the Data Protection Authority. The admissions form collects data about minors: keep fields to the strict minimum, host them in the EU and set a retention period.

Fee transparency. A clear fees page (registration fee, annual fees, sibling discounts, transport, lunch) cuts repetitive enquiries and qualifies families.

Accreditations. Cite your accreditations or authorisations (IB, international accreditation bodies, any recognition by the Community) precisely and only if current.

Accessibility. Target WCAG 2.1 AA on the main templates and publish an accessibility statement.

This is not legal advice.

Mini case study

*Illustrative example.* Élodie, admissions director at a 450-pupil international school in Uccle, receives two quotes: €26,000 from a local agency plus €500 a month, and Kolonell's Premium package at €8,200 plus €1,500 for Dutch translation and 2 photo sessions at €1,000 each.

Over three years, the agency costs 26,000 + 36 × 500 = €44,000. The remote option costs 8,200 + 1,500 + 2,000 = €11,700, plus maintenance on quote after 3 months. Even at €350 a month for 33 months (€11,550), the total stays around €23,250. Élodie picks the remote studio and puts part of the difference into open days.

FAQ

Does the site need three languages at launch?

French and English at minimum; Dutch can cover 6 to 10 key pages at first. That cuts translation costs by about 60% compared with a fully trilingual site.

Can we publish photos of the playground or classroom?

Yes if no pupil is identifiable, or with written parental consent. Keep a register and review consents at the start of each school year, so once a year.

Should we show tuition fees?

It is strongly advised, to qualify enquiries. A grid by year group, in 4 to 6 rows, is often enough.

What happens after the 3 included months of support?

At Kolonell, maintenance after the 3 months is on quote. Plan at least one update of fees and the admissions calendar each year, before January.

How much staff time does content take?

Allow 10 to 20 hours of review from leadership and admissions. Request a free quote for a precise schedule.

Let's scope your project. Tell us your programmes, languages and admissions calendar, and we will suggest the right package with a 3 to 4 week timeline. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.