The verdict in three sentences
In Brussels, a private or international school website built by a local agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 6 000 and 30 000 EUR, and more for a French, Dutch and English site with a parent portal. Kolonell builds the admissions journey, curriculum pages and visit requests for a fixed price of 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth. The real comparison is the 3-year total cost, how languages are handled and how pupil photos are treated.
This version is written for the English-speaking heads, admissions directors and governors of private and international schools in Brussels, who often serve families from the EU institutions and multinational employers.
What do Brussels agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
The ranges below are prudent ballparks, not official figures. They draw on public rate cards of Brussels agencies, minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co, published hourly rates often between 70 and 120 EUR and rates visible on Malt and Upwork. A Brussels freelancer can go as low as 2 000 EUR for a small site: cheaper than Kolonell Starter, usually with less copywriting and follow-up.
| Criterion | Brussels agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 6 000 to 30 000 EUR and up | 2 000 to 7 000 EUR | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 EUR, fixed |
| Changes outside scope | Often 70 to 120 EUR per hour | Often 45 to 80 EUR per hour | Quoted before any work |
| Usual timeline | 8 to 16 weeks | 4 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Campus and classroom photos | Often offered as an option | Rarely | Not included: your images or a local photographer |
| Page copy | Often billed separately | Rarely included | Native French or English copy included |
| Support after launch | Separate maintenance contract | Case by case | 3 months, 6 on Premium |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
Payment is by bank transfer or Wise: 50 % to start, 50 % at delivery. A project manager follows the file with a written update every week and Google Meet calls at a time that suits the school's leadership. The team is based in Senegal (GMT), one to two hours behind Brussels depending on the season. Full details are on our international website offer.
Which 3-year total cost should you compare?
A school also pays for maintenance, updates every school year (calendar, tuition fees, new programmes) and photography. The table assumes the same maintenance budget on both sides, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request. For an international school, Premium, which includes the bilingual FR/EN site, is the relevant tier.
| Item over 36 months | Brussels agency (mid range) | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|
| FR/EN website build | 19 000 EUR | 8 200 EUR |
| Support included after launch | Depends on contract | 6 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 130 EUR per month over 33 months, 4 290 EUR | 4 290 EUR, maintenance quoted on request |
| School-year updates over 3 years | 10 hours at 95 EUR, 950 EUR | Quoted beforehand, assumption 700 EUR |
| Campus photos | Option, 1 200 EUR | Local photographer booked separately, 1 200 EUR |
| Indicative total | 25 440 EUR | 14 390 EUR |
These figures structure the comparison; they do not predict your invoice. Ask every supplier to fill in the same table.
What does each Kolonell tier include for a school?
| Item | Starter 2 700 EUR | Growth 4 500 EUR | Premium 8 200 EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | One page per section (nursery, primary, secondary) | One page per year group and programme | Full structure, several campuses |
| Admissions | Page with steps and contact | Admissions journey, fees, calendar | Detailed journey per family profile |
| Visits and open days | Contact form | Visit request form | Calendar embedded from your existing tool |
| School life | Simple section | Activities, transport, canteen pages | Full pages, news |
| Bilingual FR/EN site | No | No | Included |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written schedule, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
A parent portal, online enrolment with payment or a staff intranet are custom applications, quoted on request. A Dutch or German version is supplied by the school or quoted separately.
What does a Brussels school website need?
In Brussels, private and international schools welcome families who came for the European institutions, NATO, diplomatic missions and multinationals, often living in Uccle, Woluwe, Etterbeek, Ixelles or further out towards Tervuren and Waterloo. Many arrive mid-year and choose the school remotely, from their home country. The site should:
- Explain the programme (English, French, bilingual, International Baccalaureate if the school is authorised) without obscure acronyms.
- Show fees and the admissions calendar, including mid-year arrivals.
- Offer a virtual tour or a call for families still abroad.
- Present school transport, after-school care and activities, decisive for working parents.
- Show school life with recent photos, taken with the necessary permissions.
On compliance, the facts only. GDPR applies, overseen by the Belgian Data Protection Authority. Children's data and pupil photos need a clear legal basis, in practice parental permission to publish images. Admission forms should be limited to the information needed. WCAG 2.1 AA is the technical accessibility reference. This is not legal advice.
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Which red flags should you watch for in quotes?
- A price with no list of languages: French, English and Dutch change the budget.
- Pupil photos supplied with no word on parental permission.
- An admissions form asking for school reports or medical data at first contact.
- A domain in the supplier's name.
- No pricing for school-year updates, which come back every year.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Katrien V., admissions director of a 350-pupil bilingual international school in Woluwe, receives two quotes. A Brussels agency quotes 22 500 EUR for a site in French, English and Dutch, delivered in 14 weeks. Kolonell proposes Premium at 8 200 EUR for the bilingual FR/EN site, delivered in 5 weeks; the Dutch version goes to a translator for 1 400 EUR and the photos to a local photographer for 1 500 EUR.
Agency option: 22 500 EUR, photos not included. Kolonell option: 11 100 EUR all in, an 11 400 EUR gap before even adding the agency's photos. Katrien picks Kolonell and keeps the local agency in reserve for a future parent portal.
FAQ
How much does an international school website cost in Brussels in 2026?
As a ballpark, 6 000 to 30 000 EUR with a local agency and 2 000 to 7 000 EUR with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR.
Can the site be in Dutch?
Yes, if the school supplies the copy or the translation is quoted separately. A bilingual FR/EN site is included in Premium at 8 200 EUR.
Does Kolonell photograph the school?
No, Kolonell does no on-site shoots or in-person meetings. A Brussels photographer often charges 600 to 1 500 EUR per day based on published rates.
Can we handle enrolment online?
An admission enquiry form is included from Starter. Full enrolment with a file and payment is an application quoted on request.
How does payment work?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery, two payments of 4 100 EUR on Premium.
Let's scope your project. Send us your programmes, your languages and your admissions calendar, 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.
