Choosing who builds your website is a bigger decision than choosing the tool. The same site can be a good investment or an expensive disappointment depending on who builds it and what was agreed. This guide helps you decide between a freelancer, an agency and a website builder, and gives you the questions to ask before you sign.
NyxWorks is a web studio in Amsterdam, so we have an interest in this topic. We have tried to keep the advice fair, including the cases where you do not need a studio at all.
This is a decision guide, not a price list. Prices change, so we do not quote market prices here. See what a website costs in the Netherlands for figures with a check date. Last reviewed 4 November 2026.
Quick answer
| Your situation | Usually the best fit |
|---|---|
| Simple site, tight budget, you can write the text yourself | A website builder (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify), set up by you |
| You want it done properly but have no time | A freelancer or a small studio with a fixed price |
| Online shop, bookings, or connections to other systems | A freelancer or studio with a track record in that exact type of site |
| Several people, brand work, and a long-term marketing plan | An agency |
The three options, honestly
Website builder, do it yourself. Cheapest to start and fine for a simple brochure site. The cost is your time, and results depend on your writing and photos. It is a good choice if you enjoy it. It is a poor choice if you will keep putting it off. See WordPress, Shopify or Wix? for how to pick the platform.
Freelancer. One person, often very good, direct contact, flexible. The risk is dependence: if they get ill, busy or leave the trade, who holds your site and logins? Ask for that in writing.
Small studio. A few people covering design, development and content. You usually get more than one skill set and some continuity. Smaller than an agency, so you can still talk to the person doing the work.
Agency. Dedicated roles, process and capacity. Best when the project is large, has many stakeholders, or needs ongoing campaigns. For a small business it can mean paying for meetings and layers you do not need.
Seven questions to ask before you hire
- Can I see two or three sites you built, and talk to one client? A real client reference is worth more than any portfolio page.
- Who owns the site, the domain and the logins when it is finished? The answer should be: you.
- What exactly is included in the price? Number of pages, languages, revisions, forms, copywriting, photos, SEO basics.
- What happens after launch? Hosting, security updates, backups, and who fixes things. See our maintenance checklist.
- How fast will the site load on a phone? Ask them to show a speed test of a site they built. Slow sites lose visitors.
- Will I be able to edit the text myself? If not, every small change becomes a paid request.
- How will we know the site works? A good answer names something you can measure, such as enquiries, not just "it will look great".
Red flags
- A price with no written scope ("we'll see as we go")
- The designer keeps the domain or hosting in their own name
- No contract, or a contract that does not say who owns the work
- Promises of "number one on Google" within weeks
- Templates sold as custom work, without telling you
- No one can explain what you will be paying for each year after launch
What a good quote must say
A good quote is short and specific. It should state:
- What you get: pages, features and languages, listed
- What it costs, and whether VAT is included. In the Netherlands, check whether the amount is excluding or including 21% VAT
- The timeline: start, review rounds, launch date
- What is not included: and what it would cost if you add it later
- Ownership: who owns the code, text, images and domain at the end
- Support after launch: what is covered and for how long
A fixed price agreed in writing protects both sides. It is how we work: our published prices are on the prices page, with a fixed scope.
A simple way to decide
- Write down what the site must do in one sentence ("get enquiries from local customers", "sell 20 products online").
- Pick the lightest option that can do that.
- Ask two or three providers the seven questions above.
- Choose the one whose answers are clearest, not the cheapest or the most polished.
If your current site is not bringing in enquiries, the problem is often not the design. Read why your website is not generating enquiries first, or run our free website X-ray to see what is holding it back.
If you would like a second opinion on a quote you already have, you can book a free consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a freelancer cheaper than an agency?
Often yes for the same scope, but not always. Compare what is included, not just the total, and ask who is responsible when something breaks.
Should I choose a designer in the Netherlands?
It is not required, but it helps with Dutch-language text, local payment methods such as iDEAL, Dutch consumer rules and time zones. Ask whether they have built sites for Dutch customers.
Should I use WordPress, Shopify or Wix?
It depends on what the site must do. See our platform comparison.
How long does a website take?
It depends on scope and on how fast you deliver text and photos. Ask for a timeline in the quote, and know that delays are often on the content side.
Next step
Want this done for your business?
Tell us what you need. You get a fixed scope and a public price, usually within a day.
Start a project
