Creating a Multilingual Website in Sitebuilder (2026)

A multilingual website opens doors to new markets and visitors. Whether you want to reach Dutch and English-speaking customers or build a truly international website, Sitebuilder makes it easy to support multiple languages.

Why Go Multilingual

The benefits of a multilingual website:

  • Reach customers in their own language
  • Expand your market to other countries
  • Build trust with international visitors
  • Better rankings in local search results
  • Professional appearance for international businesses

Adding Languages

Setting Language

  1. Open your Sitebuilder dashboard
  2. Go to Settings
  3. Click on Languages
  4. You will see the current default language

Adding a New Language

  1. Click on Add Language
  2. Select the language from the list:
    • English
    • German
    • French
    • Spanish
    • And many others
  3. Click on Add
  4. The language is now available

Changing Default Language

  1. Go to language settings
  2. Click on the current default language
  3. Select Set as Default
  4. Visitors will see this language first

Translating Content

Translating a Page

  1. Open the page you want to translate
  2. Click on the language switcher at the top
  3. Select the language you want to translate to
  4. The page opens in the new language
  5. Edit the content to the translated version

Adjusting Text

For each text block:

  1. Click on the text block
  2. Replace the text with the translation
  3. Maintain formatting and structure
  4. Adjust headings and bullet points

Images with Text

Images with text need to be created separately:

  1. Create a version per language
  2. Upload the correct image for each language version
  3. Or use text overlays that you can translate

Translating the Menu

  1. Go to the menu settings
  2. Select the language you want to edit
  3. Translate each menu item
  4. Keep the structure consistent

Adding a Language Switcher

Allow visitors to easily switch languages:

  1. Add a Language Switcher element
  2. Place it in the header
  3. Choose the display type:
    • Flags
    • Language codes (NL, EN, DE)
    • Full language names

Language Switcher Styling

  1. Select the language switcher
  2. Go to Design
  3. Adjust:
    • Size of flags
    • Colors and hover effects
    • Dropdown menu or inline display

URL Structure

Language in URL

Each language version has its own URL:

  • Dutch: jouwsite.nl/contact
  • English: jouwsite.nl/en/contact
  • German: jouwsite.nl/de/kontakt

Custom Slugs per Language

Also translate the URL slugs:

  1. Open the page in the correct language
  2. Go to Page Settings
  3. Edit the URL slug
  4. Use a translated slug

Example:

  • /diensten (Dutch)
  • /services (English)
  • /dienstleistungen (German)

SEO per Language

Meta Tags per Language

Each language version needs its own meta information:

  1. Open the page in the respective language
  2. Go to SEO
  3. Fill in:
    • Translated meta title
    • Translated meta description
  4. Save

Hreflang Tags

Sitebuilder automatically adds hreflang tags. These tell Google:

  • Which language versions exist
  • Which pages belong together
  • Which version is for which country/language

Local Keywords

Use keywords that people use in that language:

  • Research popular search terms per market
  • Do not translate literally, but look for local terms
  • Adjust content to local customs

Automatically Detect Language

Browser Preference

Automatically direct visitors to the correct language:

  1. Go to Language Settings
  2. Enable Automatic Detection
  3. Visitors will see their browser language

Country-Based Detection

Detect based on location:

  1. Enable Geo-Detection
  2. Link countries to languages
  3. Visitors from Germany see German, etc.

Remember Preference

  1. Enable Save Language Preference
  2. The choice is remembered via cookies
  3. Returning visitors see their preferred language

Multilingual Webshop

Translating Products

  1. Go to E-commerce and select Products
  2. Open a product
  3. Select the language at the top
  4. Translate:
    • Product title
    • Description
    • Variants

Prices per Market

Adjust prices per country:

  1. Go to E-commerce Settings
  2. Configure currency per language/country
  3. Set prices by region

Shipping per Country

  1. Set shipping rates per country
  2. Link to the correct language version
  3. Visitors see relevant shipping options

Translation Tips

Professional Translations

  • Use a professional translator for important content
  • Automatic translations only as a basis
  • Have native speakers review

Consistency

  • Create a glossary of translated terms
  • Keep style and tone of voice consistent
  • Translate buttons and labels as well

Cultural Differences

Be aware of cultural nuances:

  • Date format (DD-MM-YYYY vs MM/DD/YYYY)
  • Currency symbols and numbers
  • Images and color meanings
  • Local holidays and events

Common Mistakes

Incomplete Translations

  • Check if all pages are translated
  • Check menu items and footer
  • Don’t forget forms and error messages

Mixed Languages

  • Avoid multiple languages on one page
  • Be careful with automatically generated content
  • Check widgets and third-party content

Need Help?

We are here for you! Are you facing any issues or do you have questions? Our support team is happy to assist you personally. Send us a message via the ticket system - we usually respond within a few hours and are happy to help.