App developer in The Hague
Appfront builds custom apps and software for businesses, government bodies and institutions in The Hague. We handle design, development and maintenance with our own team, you retain ownership of the code, and we work to the standards that apply in the public sector around accessibility and information security. Ideal for organisations with an idea who want to know whether it can be built.
Building an app in The Hague
The Hague has a business profile you won't find anywhere else in the Netherlands: the seat of government, many ministries and implementation bodies, international institutions, and around them a dense layer of service providers working for them. For software, this often means additional requirements. Accessibility is a legal obligation for government websites and apps, and the frameworks around information security and data processing go further than they do for the average business.
We build software that takes this into account: mobile apps, web applications, portals and integrations. Accessibility and careful handling of data are part of our design from the outset, not something bolted on afterwards, because fixing things later costs more and rarely turns out as well.
If you're unsure whether an app is the answer to your question, it's worth having a conversation. You may also like our app development services, digitally accessible apps, or our national page.
One team, from start to finish
The same people handle the design, the build and the maintenance. There's no handover between parties where knowledge gets lost.
Working versions along the way
You see the app taking shape along the way, rather than only at the end. Adjustments can still be made without great expense.
The code and data remain yours
No platform you're locked into. If you part ways with us, you take everything with you.
How we work with clients in The Hague
We work the same way on every project, whether you're around the corner or further afield in the country. Short, iterative cycles, working versions along the way and a fixed point of contact who genuinely works on your project.
We start with a conversation about what you want to achieve and for whom. This often reveals that part of the idea could be approached differently, or that a smaller first step is possible.
We work out the screens and the architecture, and test them with the people who will use the app. This brings misunderstandings to light before any code has been written.
We build in short iterations and show working versions along the way. You steer the priorities, rather than only seeing what has been made at the end.
Publication on the App Store and Google Play, followed by monitoring, maintenance and further development as your usage grows.
What we build
What we build depends on your question. These are the things we build most often.
iOS and Android apps
Native or cross-platform, depending on what your app needs to do. We advise on that and don't default to one or the other.
Web applications
Applications that run in the browser, for employees or customers, with the same attention to speed and usability as a mobile app.
Custom software
Software built around your own processes, for when an off-the-shelf package forces you into a way of working that doesn't suit you.
Integrations
Connections with your existing systems, from accounting and ERP to planning and inventory, so data doesn't have to be entered twice.
Prototypes
A working prototype to test an idea with users before a full app is built.
Operations and ongoing development
We stay involved after launch: monitoring, updates for new operating systems and expansion whenever it's needed.
Who we build for in the region
In The Hague and the surrounding area, we work with organisations where their own processes take precedence and where additional requirements often apply.
Government and implementation
Applications for citizens or employees, meeting the digital accessibility and information security requirements that apply in the public sector.
International organisations
Institutions with users from several countries, where multilingual support and careful handling of data are a given.
Professional services
Advisory, legal and lobbying firms whose work revolves around case files and documents, where confidentiality comes first.
Healthcare and wellbeing
Institutions handling sensitive data, where the software must fit with existing case files and with the rules that govern them.
Technology
We choose the technology based on what the app needs to do, not the other way round. For an app that relies heavily on the camera, location or offline use, native is usually the obvious choice; for many business applications, cross-platform is quicker to build and cheaper to maintain. We explain why we recommend something and what it means for maintenance over the longer term. You can read more about our approach under app development and custom software development.
Why choose Appfront as your app developer in The Hague?
We build custom software with our own team, without vendor lock-in. You remain the owner of your software and your data.
Our own team
Design and development happen in-house in Amsterdam. You speak directly with the people who build your app, not an intermediary or an outsourced team.
No vendor lock-in
The code and the data belong to you. You can move on to another party at any time without having to start from scratch.
Advice that sometimes says no
If an app isn't the best answer to your question, we'll tell you. A web application or an adjustment to your existing system is sometimes the wiser choice.
Involved after launch
An app is never truly finished. We stay available for maintenance, updates and expansion rather than disappearing after handover.
Working together from Amsterdam
Our office is on the Westerdoksdijk in Amsterdam. The Hague is directly connected by train, and on a project we schedule several in-person moments: the introduction, the design sessions and the key deliveries. Day-to-day coordination takes place online, which works more efficiently for both parties.
We do not have an office in The Hague, and we prefer to say so openly. What matters is that your main contact and the developers are the same people throughout the project, and that we are familiar with the requirements that apply in the public sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we are asked most often.
Yes. Our team is based in Amsterdam, and we work with clients throughout the Netherlands, including The Hague. The Hague is directly connected to Amsterdam by train, so meeting in person is easy to arrange. In practice, we combine on-site meetings with online coordination, which works well for most projects.
That depends entirely on what the app needs to do, which systems it connects to and how many users it is for. We only give a reasoned estimate once we have properly understood your question, because quoting a figure without that knowledge wouldn't help you. In an introductory conversation we map out the scope together.
Both, depending on what the app needs to do. If it relies heavily on the camera, location, sensors or offline use, native is usually the better choice. For many business applications, cross-platform is quicker to build and cheaper to maintain, because you maintain one codebase instead of two. We advise case by case and explain why.
Often, yes. We start with a technical assessment of the existing code, the architecture and the dependencies. That leads to an honest verdict: build on what's there, partly replace it, or start again. We only recommend starting again if it's genuinely the sensible route, as it is rarely the cheapest.
You do. We hand over the source code and you decide what happens with it. The data and the accounts with the App Store and Google Play are also in your name. We think that's only right: you should be able to move on to another party at any time without being locked in.
An app needs ongoing maintenance: operating systems release new versions, libraries get updated and users come up with new requests. After go-live we stay involved for monitoring, updates and further development. How intensive that is we agree on in advance, and it is not an obligation: you can also manage this yourself or hand it to another party.
Building an app in The Hague?
Tell us what you want to achieve and for whom. In an introductory conversation we will explore together whether an app is the best route, what is required and where we are best to start.