What does an SEO strategy cost in the Netherlands?

SEO Costs in the Netherlands: What Can You Expect? "What does SEO actually cost?" We get this question weekly as an SEO agency in the Netherlands. The honest answer is: it depends on many factors. A local bakery in a small town has different needs than a national webshop. In this article, we share the real prices of SEO in the Netherlands and help you determine what the investment is worth for your business. Why Do SEO Prices Vary So Much? SEO prices in the Netherlands range from €300 to €10,000+ per month. This large spread exists because SEO is not a standard product. An SEO strategy is custom work, just like a tailored suit. Factors that determine the price: • Competition level: Ranking for "bakery Amsterdam" is much harder than "bakery small town" • Website size: Optimizing 10 pages takes less time than 1000 pages • Current state: A technically perfect website requires less work than a site full of problems • Objectives: Local visibility vs national dominance • Timeline: Quick results require more intensive efforts A practical example: a dentist in Amsterdam wanted to rank higher for "dentist Amsterdam". This cost 3 months at €1500 per month. A similar dentist in a smaller city paid €800 per month because the competition there is much less fierce. Freelance SEO Specialists: €25-€150 Per Hour Freelance SEO experts in the Netherlands usually charge between €25-€150 per hour. The price differences are significant: Starting freelancers (€25-€50/hour): • Often specialists in one aspect of SEO • Suitable for simple local projects • Limited experience with complex technical issues • Good choice for small budgets Experienced freelancers (€50-€100/hour): • 3-5 years experience with diverse projects • Can develop complete SEO strategies • Understand technical and content SEO • Ideal for SME businesses Senior SEO specialists (€100-€150/hour): • 5+ years experience with complex projects • Specialized in specific sectors • Can develop enterprise-level strategies • Suitable for large companies and complex websites A webshop from Rotterdam chose an experienced freelancer (€75/hour) who worked 15 hours per month. Total costs: €1125/month. Their organic revenue increased by €25,000 per month - an ROI of 2200%. SEO Agencies: €1000-€10,000+ Per Month SEO agencies offer more than just expertise - they bring teams, processes, and tools. Prices vary greatly: Small local agencies (€1000-€3000/month): • Focus on local businesses in their region • Personal service and short communication lines • Good knowledge of local market • Limited resources for large projects Medium-sized agencies (€3000-€7000/month): • Specialized teams for different aspects • Access to professional SEO tools • Proven process and methodology • Can run multiple projects in parallel Large agencies (€7000-€15,000+/month): • Enterprise-level strategies and execution • Access to premium tools and data • Dedicated account managers and teams • International experience and best practices We help, for example, a retail chain with 25 stores in the Netherlands. Their investment of €5000/month resulted in 180% more organic traffic and €300,000 extra annual revenue. What Do You Get for Your Money? The value of SEO is not just in the hours spent on it, but in the expertise and results. Here's what you can expect: At €1000-€2000/month: • Keyword research and competition analysis • On-page optimization of main pages • Technical SEO audit and fixes • Monthly reporting of results • 15-25 hours per month expert time At €3000-€5000/month: • Extensive content strategy and creation • Link building campaigns • Local SEO optimization • Conversion rate optimization • A/B testing of SEO elements • 35-50 hours per month multidisciplinary team At €7000+/month: • Enterprise-level strategic planning • Dedicated team with various specializations • Advanced analytics and custom reporting • International SEO for multiple markets • Integration with other marketing channels • 70+ hours per month senior expertise Hidden Costs: What Businesses Don't Think About Besides monthly SEO costs, there are often additional expenses: Content creation: €500-€2000/month for quality blogs and page content SEO tools: €200-€500/month for tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush Technical fixes: €1000-€5000 one-time for website improvements Link building: €1000-€3000/month for quality backlinks A restaurant in Utrecht thought €1500/month for SEO was enough but forgot budgets for new photos (€800), menu updates (€300/month), and supporting Google Ads (€500/month). Total budget became €3100/month. ROI of SEO: When Does It Pay Back? SEO usually has a longer payback period than other marketing, but the returns are often higher and more sustainable. Practical examples: Local service provider (dentist Amsterdam): • Investment: €1500/month for 6 months • Result: 8 extra patients per month • Value per patient: €400 lifetime value • ROI: 355% in first year E-commerce (fashion webshop): • Investment: €4000/month for 12 months • Result: €50,000 extra organic revenue per month • ROI: 1150% in first year B2B service provider (IT consultancy): • Investment: €2500/month for 8 months • Result: 3 extra clients per month • Value per client: €15,000 average project • ROI: 2150% in first year When Is SEO Worth the Investment? SEO is a good investment if: • Your customers search online for your services • Your competitors are already well visible online • You pursue long-term growth (not quick wins) • You're willing to invest 6-12 months before seeing maximum results • You want organic traffic that keeps growing SEO might not be suitable if: • You need immediate results (choose Google Ads instead) • Your doelgroep doesn't search online • You don't have budget for at least 6 months • Your product/service is seasonal with short cycles Cheap SEO: Why It Usually Turns Out Expensive We regularly see companies spending €200-€500 per month on "SEO" and being disappointed with results. Why doesn't cheap SEO usually work? • Insufficient time: For €300/month you can buy maximum 6 hours - too little for effective SEO • Automation: Cheap SEO often uses automated tools that Google penalizes • No customization: One-size-fits-all approach doesn't work in SEO • Outdated techniques: Cheap providers often use outdated methods A webshop from The Hague first spent 6 months at €250/month on a cheap SEO service. No results. Then they invested €2000/month in professional SEO and saw their organic revenue double within 4 months. How Do You Choose the Right SEO Partner? Price isn't everything. Here are criteria for choosing an SEO partner: Portfolio and case studies: Can they show demonstrable results in your sector? Transparency: Do they explain what they do and why? Realistic expectations: Do they promise impossible results? Communication: How often and how detailed do they report? Tools and methodology: Do they use professional tools and have a clear process? Budgeting: How Much Should You Spend? As a rule of thumb, we recommend: Local businesses: €1000-€3000/month for 6-12 months Regional businesses: €2500-€5000/month for 8-15 months National businesses: €4000-€10,000+/month for 12+ months Always start with an SEO audit (€500-€2000) to determine what's needed. This prevents underestimating or overestimating the required budget. Alternatives for Limited Budgets Limited budget? These options can help: DIY SEO with tools: €50-€200/month for tools + your own time SEO training: €1000-€3000 one-time to learn it yourself Hybrid model: SEO partner for strategy (€500/month) + internal execution Project-based SEO: €2000-€5000 for specific projects like technical optimization A startup from Rotterdam started with an SEO audit (€1500) and 3 months strategic guidance (€800/month). Then they implemented the recommendations themselves and saw their organic traffic increase by 250%. SEO costs in the Netherlands vary enormously, but the investment can pay back considerably. The most important thing is to have realistic expectations, choose the right partner, and reserve sufficient budget for at least 6 months. Want to know what SEO would cost for your specific situation? Contact us for a free SEO consultation where we discuss your exact needs and budget.