Vincent Otto
5 Sept 2025
Translation alone is not enough – SEO makes the difference
Many German companies have their websites translated into Dutch in order to become visible on the Dutch market. However, the desired success often fails to materialise: the website cannot be found on Google.nl and the number of clicks remains low.
The reason: a SEO translation into Dutch differs from a ‘normal’ translation.
It combines linguistic precision with search engine optimisation to ensure that your texts rank just as well in the Netherlands as they do in Germany.
What does SEO-optimised translation mean?
A SEO translation from German into Dutch not only takes grammar and style into account, but also:
Keywords: Which terms do Dutch users actually search for? (e.g. ‘juridische vertaling’ instead of just ‘translation contract’)
Meta texts: Titles and descriptions must be attractive to Google and users.
Structure: Headings (H1, H2, H3) and text structure are important for rankings.
Localisation: Content must be adapted to the Dutch market in terms of language and culture.
Typical mistakes in website translations
Direct translation of German keywords: Users in the Netherlands often search using completely different terms.
Lack of meta optimisation: If the title and description are not adapted, the click rate will drop.
Incorrect tone: Marketing texts that appear professional in Germany can quickly come across as too stiff in the Netherlands.
Untranslated technical elements: Alt texts, URLs or call-to-actions remain in German – a disadvantage for SEO.
Advantages of SEO-optimised translation
With professional SEO translation into Dutch, you can be sure of:
Greater visibility in Dutch search engines
Higher click rates thanks to optimised titles and descriptions
Better conversion because texts are culturally adapted
Long-term success on the Dutch market
Practical example: marketing and online shops
A German online shop offering ‘sports shoes’ will only be found in the Netherlands if the text also contains terms such as “sneakers” or ‘hardloopschoenen’. This is precisely where simple translation differs from SEO-optimised translation.
Conclusion: Translation + SEO = reach in the Netherlands
If you want to have your website or online shop translated into Dutch, think beyond language alone. It is crucial that your texts are also optimised for Google.nl.
➡️ As a freelance German ↔ Dutch translator with SEO experience, I can help you make your content linguistically accurate, culturally adapted and visible to search engines.