Dutch localisation and content · Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Need Dutch copy that reads as if it was written for the Netherlands rather than translated into it? I help international teams localise websites and marketing content, rewrite awkward Dutch, create SEO-led copy and review content before it goes live.
I’m Jamie de Graaf, an independent Dutch language, content and SEO specialist based in Rotterdam. I have worked independently since 2013 and deal directly with the people responsible for the website, campaign or Dutch market.
Dutch for the Netherlands (nl-NL)
Localisation, SEO content and copy review
Direct freelance support from Rotterdam
When to bring in a Dutch specialist
A Dutch specialist is useful when the words are not the only thing that needs to be right. The copy also has to fit the local market, the page intent, the product and the way people in the Netherlands actually read, search and make decisions.
I adapt English source copy into natural Netherlands Dutch, including headings, buttons, forms, navigation and supporting text. The goal is not to preserve the English sentence structure; it is to preserve the meaning and make the Dutch page work.
I can research the Dutch search intent, build the page around the questions users actually need answered and write or rewrite copy that fits both organic search and the conversion goal.
I check whether the copy is accurate, idiomatic, consistent and appropriate for the Netherlands. That includes removing literal English structures, mixed terminology and sentences that are technically correct but do not sound like natural Dutch.
I review the copy in context: headings, metadata, internal links, calls to action, navigation and page flow. With WordPress projects I can also work close to the actual page rather than treating the text as an isolated document.
Concrete output
The exact deliverable depends on where the project starts. You can send finished English source copy, an existing Dutch page that needs fixing, a content brief or a live WordPress page.
Choose the right type of work
These are different assignments. Choosing the right one at the start avoids paying for a literal translation when the page really needs to be rebuilt for a Dutch audience.
| Type of work | Use it when | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Translation | The source meaning and structure should stay close to the original. | Language changes; structure and message remain largely fixed. |
| Localisation | The same product or offer needs to work naturally for users in the Netherlands. | Terminology, examples, phrasing, calls to action and sometimes page structure are adapted. |
| Original Dutch copy | The Dutch page has its own search intent, market angle or conversion job. | The page is written for the Dutch audience from the start rather than derived sentence by sentence from English. |
Working process
The work starts with the purpose of the page and the Dutch audience, not with replacing English words one by one.
You share the source material, target audience, market, channel and what the page needs the reader to do.
I check the language choices, local terminology and — where SEO matters — the Dutch search intent before drafting or rewriting.
I produce the Dutch version in the agreed format and keep the copy aligned with the page goal rather than with the source sentence order.
Before handover, I check consistency, calls to action, headings, links and other visible copy so the Dutch version works as a complete page.
Background
I have worked independently in online marketing, SEO, content and website management since 2013. That means I usually look at more than the sentence itself: I also look at where the copy appears, how the user reached it and what the page needs to achieve.
Working directly
A useful first message does not need to be long. It should make clear what exists now, what needs to change and where the Dutch content will be used.
The English source, current Dutch version, live URL or brief that the work should start from.
Who the Dutch copy is for and whether the target is specifically the Netherlands rather than Dutch-speaking Belgium.
The pages or content types involved, approximate volume and when the work needs to be ready.
Any target queries, existing keyword research, metadata requirements or WordPress workflow I should work within.
Buyer questions
The difference between Dutch translation and localisation is that localisation adapts the copy for the target market as well as changing the language. That can include terminology, examples, tone, calls to action and page structure for users in the Netherlands.
Yes, I work specifically with Dutch for the Netherlands (nl-NL). I can identify obvious differences with Belgian Dutch, but I do not present myself as a native Flemish language specialist.
Yes, I can write Dutch SEO content as well as localise existing copy. If the Dutch page has its own search intent, I would normally rather research and write for that intent than reproduce the structure of an English page that targets a different market.
Yes, I can review Dutch produced by AI or machine translation. For ordinary website and marketing copy, I check meaning, naturalness, consistency and page context. For LLM evaluation, rubrics or voice AI, see the dedicated Dutch AI language review service.
Yes, I can work directly in WordPress when that is the most practical workflow. My background includes years of managing WordPress content, so I can review visible copy together with headings, metadata, internal links and other page elements.
No, I do not provide certified or sworn translations. My work is aimed at website, marketing, SEO, content and language-quality projects. Documents that legally require a sworn translator should go to an appropriately qualified specialist.
The cost of a Dutch localisation or content project depends on the volume, source quality, research required, number of revision rounds and whether the work includes SEO or CMS implementation. I scope the actual assignment before agreeing the fee rather than applying one rate to every type of project.
Dutch for the Netherlands
Share the source material, target audience, pages involved and deadline. I’ll tell you whether the work fits my scope and what I would need to get started.
Discuss your Dutch content project