The verdict in three sentences
In Antwerp, a private or international school website built by a Flemish agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, 10 000 to 35 000 EUR, while a local freelancer usually quotes 3 000 to 10 000 EUR, rarely with copywriting included. Kolonell delivers the admissions journey, division pages, tuition fees and employer pages with native English copy for a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR. Over three years the gap with a freelancer is small once copywriting is counted honestly, and the gap with an agency stays around 13 600 EUR.
What do Antwerp agencies and freelancers charge in 2026?
These ranges are prudent ballparks, not official prices. They draw on public rate cards of agencies in Antwerp and Flanders, minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co profiles of Belgian agencies, hourly rates published by Flemish studios (often 75 to 125 EUR per hour) and freelance rates visible on Malt and Upwork. The number of divisions, languages and the admissions tool move them a lot.
| Criterion | Antwerp agency | Antwerp freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 10 000 to 35 000 EUR | 3 000 to 10 000 EUR | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 EUR, fixed |
| Changes outside scope | Often 75 to 125 EUR per hour | Often 50 to 85 EUR per hour | Quoted before any work |
| Usual timeline | 10 to 16 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| English admissions copy | Often an add-on | Rarely included | Native copy included |
| Dutch version | Written natively | Usually included | Supplied by the school or quoted separately |
| French version | Sometimes, as an option | Varies | Included on Premium (bilingual FR/EN site) |
| Photos or video on campus | Often offered | Sometimes | Not included: your images or a local photographer |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in the school's name, all access handed over |
An Antwerp agency keeps two real advantages: it writes Dutch natively and can film a school day on site. Kolonell does no filming and no in-person meetings; its case rests on a signed fixed price, native English and French copy, a reachable project manager and full ownership. Calls happen on Google Meet at the school's hour, with a written update every week; the team is based in Senegal (GMT), one hour behind Antwerp in winter and two in summer. The full scope is on the international offer.
Which tier fits an Antwerp international school?
| Item | Starter 2 700 EUR | Growth 4 500 EUR | Premium 8 200 EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Division pages | One school page, divisions summarised | Early years, primary and secondary split | Detailed divisions with programmes and exams |
| Tuition fees | One page | Fees per division, published or on request | Fees, sibling discounts and employer invoicing |
| Employer and relocation page | No | One page for HR teams and relocation agents | Dedicated page with downloadable documents |
| Admissions software | Link to your tool | Embed of the tool the school chose | Polished integration; a custom parent portal is quoted on request |
| School bus | Plain text | Map of routes and areas served | Map, timetables and bus registration form |
| Teacher recruitment | No | Vacancies page | Vacancies page with practical information supplied by the school |
| Bilingual site | No | No | FR/EN included; Dutch supplied or quoted separately |
| Support after launch | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
Every tier includes the enquiry form and delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (Premium: written schedule at kickoff). Payment by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery.
How does the three-year bill compare?
Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request. To compare like with like, the table applies the same assumption of 140 EUR per month to every option, over 33 months (30 months for Premium, which includes 6 months of support).
| Item over 36 months | Antwerp agency (mid range) | Antwerp freelancer | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website build | 20 000 EUR | 6 500 EUR | 8 200 EUR |
| English and French copy | Assumption 2 500 EUR | External copywriter, assumption 3 000 EUR | Included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 4 620 EUR | 4 620 EUR | 4 200 EUR, quoted on request |
| Yearly updates (fees, calendar) | 3 x 5 h at 100 EUR, 1 500 EUR | 3 x 5 h at 65 EUR, 975 EUR | Quoted beforehand, assumption 1 200 EUR |
| Dutch version | Included | Included | Professional translator, assumption 1 400 EUR |
| Half-day photo shoot | About 1 100 EUR | About 1 100 EUR | Local photographer, about 1 100 EUR |
| Indicative total | 29 720 EUR | 16 195 EUR | 16 100 EUR |
The honest reading: against a good Antwerp freelancer, Kolonell Premium lands at roughly the same price once copy is counted, and a freelancer who writes the English himself can come out cheaper. The difference then lies in the project manager, the fixed price and the French version included. Against a mid-range agency, the gap is about 13 600 EUR.
What makes an Antwerp school website different?
Antwerp draws families through its port and chemical cluster, the diamond trade, logistics and company headquarters in northern Belgium. Many parents arrive on an expatriate contract and compare schools in Antwerp, Brasschaat, Schoten or Kapellen before they have even picked a neighbourhood. The site must answer them fast:
- The school's status: in Flanders, subsidised Dutch-language education is free or nearly so, whereas international schools outside the system set their own fees. State plainly which category you belong to.
- Employer invoicing: part of the fees is often paid by the company. A clear page for HR teams and relocation agents saves weeks.
- Languages: English, Dutch, French, and support for pupils who speak none of them. Describe language support as it actually exists.
- Programmes, without overstatement: IB, IGCSE, a British curriculum or a bilingual Flemish track are all possible in the region. Name only what the school actually teaches.
- Mid-year arrivals: the school year starts in early September, but transfers happen all year. A page of available seats by year group saves dozens of emails.
On compliance, facts only. The GDPR applies, together with the Belgian act of 30 July 2018 and the Data Protection Authority as supervisor: this affects the enquiry form, cookie consent and where application files are hosted. Children's data calls for particular care and pupil photos require written parental consent. The European Accessibility Act, applicable since 28 June 2025, targets certain products and services; for a school website, WCAG 2.1 AA is the practical technical reference. Display an accreditation (CIS, IB World School or other) only if the school holds it. This is not legal advice.
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Red flags in a school website quote
- No copywriting line: the school will have to write 20 to 30 pages in English and Dutch.
- A domain registered in the supplier's name: it must be in the school's name.
- A parent portal "included" with no detail: a real custom portal is an application with its own budget.
- No mention of employer invoicing or the school bus: Antwerp families ask both questions at first contact.
- No written hourly rate for after launch: get it in black and white.
- No answer on where applications are stored: the school must know where children's data is hosted.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Els M., head of marketing and admissions at a 650-pupil international day school (ages 3 to 18) north of Antwerp, receives three proposals. An agency asks 26 000 EUR over 14 weeks, Dutch and English included. A freelancer offers 7 000 EUR but expects the school to supply every text. Kolonell proposes Premium at 8 200 EUR with native English and French; Els adds 1 400 EUR of Dutch translation and 1 100 EUR for a local photographer.
Kolonell total: 8 200 + 1 400 + 1 100 = 10 700 EUR, which is 15 300 EUR less than the agency. Premium is paid in two transfers of 4 100 EUR. Started in late March on a written 6-week schedule, the site is live before the May and June enrolments, when families transferred for September get in touch.
FAQ
How much does an international school website cost in Antwerp in 2026?
As a ballpark, 10 000 to 35 000 EUR with a local agency and 3 000 to 10 000 EUR with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR.
Can Kolonell deliver the Dutch version?
Kolonell writes native English and French. Dutch is supplied by the school or quoted separately; for 20 pages, a professional translation often costs around 1 200 to 1 600 EUR.
Can you film a tour of the school?
No, Kolonell does not travel for shoots. The school supplies its images or books an Antwerp photographer, often 900 to 1 400 EUR per half day, and we build the virtual tour into the site.
Can the site be ready for the September intake?
Yes, Starter and Growth are delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. To reach families transferred in spring, start the project by March at the latest.
How does payment work?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. On Growth, that means two payments of 2 250 EUR.
Let's scope your project. Send us your divisions, your tuition fees and the admissions tool you use, and we come back with a fixed-price tier and a 3 to 4 week timeline. 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.
