Integrating Dutch Design
This was the second Dutch client I landed, introduced through a trusted contact, a small but influential network of school executives who have since evolved into founders and investors across the Netherlands’ vibrant start-up scene.
When you work in this space, you quickly realise: calling someone a founder here means something different. You’re speaking to people whose instincts are shaped by the birthplace of modern commerce itself. Entrepreneurship isn’t a title; it’s tradition.
The Context
The founders I met had acquired a collection of heritage Dutch design brands, each known for craftsmanship, authenticity, and longevity.
Under new leadership, they were building something bigger:
a creative ecosystem spanning product design, concept studios, video production, and traditional print.
Pure creatives! The kind that make you sweat a little when you pitch an idea, because they’ve already had three before breakfast.
The Challenge
Each brand came with its own website, hosting provider, CMS, and vendor setup, the result of years of acquisitions and fragmented maintenance.
This fragmentation meant duplicated costs, inconsistent SEO performance, and a disjointed digital presence that diluted the portfolio’s collective brand equity.
The Solution
Over the course of several days, I led a comprehensive digital audit covering:
Four brand websites across multiple hosting environments.
Full site architecture and backlink mapping, including link equity flow and domain authority assessment.
SEO and UX audits to establish a unified structure and best-practice framework.
Hosted cross-vendor workshops with hosting and service providers to identify consolidation pathways.
Delivered a technical and governance roadmap recommending the migration of all brands onto a single, scalable platform.
The Outcome
Consolidation map four legacy websites into one unified platform, streamlining maintenance and enabling cohesive brand storytelling.
Optimised SEO and backlink structure.
Reduced operational costs by consolidating technical services and hosting providers.
Supporting a digitally connected investor portfolio, transforming once-separate creative houses into an integrated, measurable digital ecosystem.
Value in Practice
This project reinforced a simple truth: even in highly creative environments, structure doesn’t dilute art, it scales it.
By aligning creative independence with digital governance, we built a foundation that honoured the soul of Dutch design while preparing it for global visibility and investor confidence.