The verdict in three sentences
For a port logistics company in Rotterdam, the 12 questions below filter out, in one meeting, agencies that do not understand shippers, forwarders and carriers. The decisive answers concern Dutch and English content quality, security practices aligned with NIS2 expectations and ownership of domain and code. Most projects land between 15,000 and 60,000 EUR ex VAT.
Budgets in the Rotterdam market
Your prospects are shippers, freight forwarders, shipping lines and inland operators along the Rhine corridor. Many read in English, and Dutch remains essential for domestic customers and recruitment. Because many port logistics operators fall within NIS2 scope through the Dutch implementation, clients and auditors increasingly ask how your public site and forms are secured.
| Option | Budget ex VAT (2026 estimate) | Timeline | Pages | Monthly maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packaged build (Kolonell Growth) | 530 to 910 EUR | 14 to 21 days | 8 to 12 | 38 to 115 EUR |
| Freelancer | 8,000 to 15,000 EUR | 5 to 8 weeks | 8 to 15 | variable |
| Corporate agency | 15,000 to 35,000 EUR | 6 to 10 weeks | 15 to 30 | 300 to 700 EUR |
| Agency with shipment tracking or portal | 35,000 to 60,000 EUR | 10 to 14 weeks | 20 to 40 | 600 to 1,500 EUR |
| Brand and digital consultancy | 60,000 EUR plus | 12 weeks plus | 30 plus | 1,500 EUR plus |
Six questions on business and content
| No. | Question | Good answer | Bad answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What pages will cover our services? | One page each: stevedoring, warehousing, customs brokerage, bonded storage, hinterland transport | One Services page with everything |
| 2 | How do shippers request a quote? | Form capturing cargo type, volume, origin, destination and Incoterm | A standard contact form |
| 3 | How do you handle Dutch and English? | Two written versions, separate URLs, visible switch | We add a machine translation plugin |
| 4 | Who writes the copy? | Included, based on interviews with your team | You send us the text |
| 5 | How will you show our capacity? | Key figures: square metres, TEU handled, equipment, Authorised Economic Operator and ISO status | With nice drone footage |
| 6 | Show us a live logistics site you built | Direct link, testable on a phone | Our work is confidential |
Six questions on technology and contract
| No. | Question | Good answer | Bad answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | How do you secure the site and forms? | HTTPS, security headers, MFA on admin, patching schedule, documented for NIS2 audits | We use a secure host |
| 8 | Where is it hosted? | Named EU host, daily backups, admin access handed over | On our servers, do not worry |
| 9 | Who owns the domain? | Your company, as registrant | We manage it for you |
| 10 | Is the code transferred? | Yes, at delivery, with all credentials | No clear answer |
| 11 | What does maintenance cover? | Updates, backups, monitoring, written response times | We fix things if they break |
| 12 | What does an extra page cost later? | Unit price fixed in the quote | We will see when it comes up |
Any agency with more than three bad answers should be dropped, whatever the price.
Mini case study
Illustrative example, not a real client: Sanne, commercial director of a 150 person warehousing and customs firm in the Waalhaven area, meets three agencies and scores one point per good answer: 6, 9 and 11 out of 12. The 11 point agency quotes 32,000 EUR, the 9 point one 24,000 EUR. Because the 11 point agency documents its security practices for NIS2, saving an estimated 3 days of internal audit work, Sanne signs with it and adds 500 EUR a month of maintenance, about 38,000 EUR in year one. Target: from 4 to 12 qualified shipper enquiries a month.
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FAQ
What does a port logistics website cost in Rotterdam?
Typically 15,000 to 60,000 EUR ex VAT, depending on portals and languages. A packaged Kolonell Growth build covers 8 to 12 pages for 530 to 910 EUR.
Does NIS2 apply to our website?
NIS2 covers your organisation's security risk management, and a public site with forms is part of that attack surface. Expect 2 to 5 days of work to document and harden it.
Do we need both Dutch and English?
For a port business, yes. A properly written second language adds 15 to 30 percent to the content budget.
How long does it take?
Six to fourteen weeks with most agencies, 14 to 21 days for a packaged build if content is ready.
What if we switch agency later?
If you own the domain and code, migration takes 1 to 2 weeks. Otherwise you often start from scratch.
Let's scope your project. Send us your services, languages and enquiry targets, and we will price a Growth build from 530 to 910 EUR delivered in 14 to 21 days. 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.
