The verdict in three sentences
For an Amsterdam-based importer or distributor that sells across the Benelux and Germany, a multilingual website (Dutch, English, German, French) with product sheets and a trade buyers' portal costs 14,000 to 26,000 EUR on the 2026 market, over 10 to 14 weeks. Translation is what moves the bill: 0.10 to 0.16 EUR a word for specialised human translation versus about 0.02 EUR for AI translation reviewed by a native speaker. Properly structured with subdirectories and hreflang tags, such a site commonly gains 35 to 60 % more traffic from outside the Netherlands within 12 months.
Architecture: subdirectories, hreflang and product sheets
A buyer in Düsseldorf, a retailer in Antwerp and a wholesaler in Lyon do not look for the same things. The German buyer wants technical specs and delivery terms, the Flemish retailer wants assortment and minimum order, the French wholesaler wants certifications and logistics. The structure has to serve all three without duplicating work.
| Architecture choice | Recommended option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Language split | Subdirectories (/de/, /fr/, /en/) | Keeps SEO authority on one domain |
| Signalling to search engines | hreflang tags + x-default | Stops the Dutch page competing with the German one |
| Belgian audience | nl-BE and fr-BE variants where wording differs | Flemish and Walloon buyers notice local terms |
| Product sheet | Single template, translated fields | One technical entry, four translations |
| Trade portal | Login, price lists, PDF specs, HD visuals | Replaces 20 to 40 emails a month |
| German legal notice | Impressum page | Expected by German B2B buyers |
| Payment and invoicing info | Per-country VAT and terms | Reverse-charge rules differ in practice |
In Germany, a missing Impressum or a site that only reads in English is a credibility issue. B2B buyers there often filter suppliers on whether the documentation exists in German.
The real budget: translation and content upkeep
A mid-sized distributor carries 60 to 120 product lines, each described in 200 to 300 words, plus about twenty corporate pages. That is quickly 30,000 words to translate into three languages beyond the source.
| Translation method | Price per word (2026 order of magnitude) | 30,000 words x 3 languages | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialised human translator | 0.12 to 0.16 EUR | 10,800 to 14,400 EUR | 5 to 7 weeks |
| General human translator | 0.10 to 0.12 EUR | 9,000 to 10,800 EUR | 4 to 6 weeks |
| AI + native review | about 0.02 EUR + review | 1,800 EUR + 1,500 to 2,600 EUR | 2 to 3 weeks |
| AI alone, no review | under 0.01 EUR | under 900 EUR | 2 days |
| Yearly update (new ranges) | 15 to 20 % of volume | 1,400 to 2,900 EUR/year | ongoing |
The hybrid model pays best: human translation for the 15 pages that carry the brand (company story, sourcing, home page) and reviewed AI for highly structured product sheets. That divides the bill by 2.5 to 3 without hurting credibility with a buyer. Unreviewed AI is a bad idea in German technical content, where a wrong term in a spec sheet can trigger a claim.
At Kolonell, a showcase site falls within the Starter grid 800,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA (1,220 to 1,830 EUR), Growth 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA (1,830 to 3,050 EUR) or Premium 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (3,050 to 5,340 EUR). Languages are set in the quote, as are the trade portal and translation. See our SEO services page.
Mini case study
Lars, export director of an Amsterdam food ingredients distributor (8.5 million EUR turnover, 65 % outside the Netherlands), currently gets about 12 qualified trade enquiries a year through a Dutch and English site. Each new account generates on average 40,000 EUR of revenue in year one at a 30 % gross margin.
After a four-language site at 20,000 EUR with 5,000 EUR of hybrid translation, the cautious assumption is a 40 % rise in non-Dutch traffic and 4 extra qualified enquiries a year, 2 of which sign. Calculation: 2 x 40,000 EUR x 30 % = 24,000 EUR of extra gross margin in year one, against 25,000 EUR invested. The project pays back early in year two, and every retained account keeps contributing with no new acquisition cost. The trade portal also saves about 3 hours a week of sending specs and visuals.
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See also: Core Web Vitals on a manufacturer's site and WordPress to headless migration.
FAQ
How much does a multilingual B2B website cost in Amsterdam in 2026?
Expect 14,000 to 26,000 EUR for four languages with product sheets and a trade portal (2026 order of magnitude). Translation alone ranges from 3,300 to 14,400 EUR depending on method.
Subdomains or subdirectories?
Subdirectories (/de/, /fr/) are better for an SME because all SEO authority stays on one domain. hreflang tags then tell Google which version to serve in each country.
Can we translate with AI?
Yes for product sheets, at about 0.02 EUR a word, provided each language is reviewed by a native speaker. Brand pages deserve a specialised translator at 0.12 to 0.16 EUR a word.
Do we need separate Belgian versions?
Only where wording or terms differ. A few nl-BE and fr-BE pages, typically 5 to 10, are usually enough.
What traffic gain can we expect?
A well-tagged multilingual site commonly gains 35 to 60 % more traffic from outside its home market in 12 months. First effects usually show after 3 to 4 months.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your export markets, number of product lines and next trade fair date, and we will define the languages, architecture and schedule. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
