Direct contact
Having a website built at an agency means dealing with account managers, project managers, and developers. With me, you talk to the person who actually builds your website. Short lines, fast decisions.
About me
Freelance Software Developer in Groningen
Bitlify builds websites and custom software solutions for small business owners and companies that want to move beyond standard tools, scattered spreadsheets, or manual work. Think of a professional website that builds trust, a dashboard that creates overview, an internal tool that automates recurring tasks, smart AI integrations that save time, or an MVP that helps you quickly test whether an idea works.
I am Stef van Houten, a freelance software developer in Groningen and the surrounding area. I use AI to speed up development and help turn ideas into working products quickly: from professional websites to dashboards, internal tools, AI-assisted automations, and MVPs that save time, create clarity, and actually get used.
PHPPythonLaravelDjangoReactNext.jsAI
Stef van Houten
Freelance software developer
Groningen, Netherlands
Why freelance + AI
A faster, more personal, and sharper-priced website thanks to AI
Faster delivery and sharper pricing for websites and custom software.
AI-accelerated development
I use AI to speed up repetitive work, improvements, and routine tasks. That lets me build your website faster and frees up time for SEO, findability, and search engine optimization.
MVP live sooner, lower cost
Whether it is an MVP, dashboard, internal tool, or custom software: less overhead and AI speed mean live sooner at a sharper price.
Experience
Companies I Worked For
Selected roles over the years
2026
Software Developer @ Eventim
Building software at real scale: millions of users, billions of database records, and heavy peak traffic, while ensuring high uptime, reliability, and effective production debugging.
Netherlands · Present
2024
Medior Software Developer @ Alserda Media
Built real-time software for games, warehouse software, dashboards, portals, and statistics tooling.
Leeuwarden, Friesland · May 2024 - Dec 2025
2023
Medior Software Developer @ YTEC
Built and improved warehouse software and planning tools.
Groningen, Groningen · Feb 2023 - Apr 2024
2021
Junior Software Developer @ Underdark
Built a custom Python framework for webservers, software for remotely controlling CNC machines, and automated bat detection in videos using FFmpeg.
Leeuwarden, Friesland · Feb 2021 - Jan 2023
Portfolio
MVP development, dashboards, and internal software in Laravel and Python
A selection of software projects and solutions I use in freelance projects.
Laravel absence management dashboard app A Laravel dashboard-driven absence app for leave requests, sick reports, patterns, and absence statistics.Switchboard AI operations dashboard One internal app that connects Slack, Sentry, GitLab, Graylog, and wiki knowledge, then uses Claude to turn scattered updates into clear team context.
MVP Development
From idea to working product
I help turn ideas quickly into a first version that can actually be used, including authentication, user management, core functionality, integrations, and a solid base for further development.
A usable first version in weeks, not months.
LaravelDjangoReactNext.js
Operational Software
Tools that speed up daily work
Internal systems that make processes clearer and more efficient, such as dashboards, portals, planning tools, and warehouse software.
Less manual work, better process control, and clearer insights.
PHPPythonAPIsDashboards
Realtime Systems
Software that stays stable under pressure
Software for situations where timing and reliability matter, such as live statistics, automation, and realtime systems.
Stable performance during use and reliable behavior under peak load.
RealtimeQueuesFFmpegMonitoring
Priorities
What I optimize for in website development and SEO
The technical priorities I do not compromise on.
Speed
Fast response times, fast deployments, and short feedback loops for both users and teams.
Reliability
Predictable systems with monitoring, clear error handling, and stable behavior under load.
Scalability
Architecture that can grow without painful rewrites when usage, data, and traffic increase.
Code Quality
Readable code, clear boundaries, and practical testing so teams can ship safely over time.
Process
How I work on websites and custom software
An iterative cycle from intake to delivery, refined every sprint.
Whether you need a new business website, an SEO upgrade, or custom software in Groningen, the process stays transparent and pragmatic. We start with a focused intake, agree on a scope you can actually ship, then build in short sprints with working demos so you see progress every week instead of a black box. Priorities shift as we learn, technical choices stay documented, and you keep control over budget and direction at each step. The result: a website or application that goes live faster, performs well in search, and stays easy to extend later with bookings, automations, or integrations.
Step 1
Intake
We align goals, users, constraints, and what success should look like, including bottlenecks and business context.
Step 2
Scope
Work is split into clear phases and sprint-sized deliverables with documented technical choices and tradeoffs.
Step 3
Build
Short cycles with regular demos, visible progress, and feedback checkpoints so priorities can shift as we learn.
Step 4
Delivery
Production-ready release with practical handover, then we review results and define the next iteration.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about website development and SEO in Groningen
Short answers for companies considering a new website, SEO improvements, or practical software in Groningen and the surrounding area.
Do you build websites for companies in Groningen and the surrounding area?
Yes. Bitlify builds fast, professional websites for entrepreneurs and companies in Groningen, the surrounding area, and the rest of the Netherlands. The focus is on performance, SEO, maintainability, and a clear structure that turns visitors into customers.
Do you also help with SEO and visibility?
Yes. I help make your website easier to find by aligning structure, content, speed, and search terms with what your customers are looking for. The goal is a website that not only looks good, but also brings in visitors and inquiries.
Can you improve an existing website instead of building a new one?
Yes. If your current website has a solid base, I can improve speed, SEO, structure, forms, and integrations. If the foundation blocks further growth, I will be direct about when rebuilding is the better choice.
What does a website cost?
The price depends on what you need. A simple website is faster and more affordable than a custom solution with bookings or automation. I can help think through an approach that fits your situation and budget.
Do you also handle maintenance and updates?
Yes. I can help with maintenance, updates, and ongoing development so your website stays secure and can grow with your company.
Can I expand later with something like a booking system?
Yes. Websites can be set up so they can later be expanded with functionality like online appointments, automations, or integrations with other systems.
Do you only build websites, or also custom software?
Both. Besides websites, Bitlify also develops dashboards, internal tools, and automations. Think of systems that save time, simplify processes, or reduce manual work.
How quickly can a first version go online?
That depends on the scope, but I usually work toward a first useful version quickly. For a focused business website, a first version can often go live within a few weeks instead of months.
Contact
Start a project with Bitlify
Phone
+31 6 40811668Location
BitlifyU.T. Delfiaweg 10089745EN GroningenNetherlands
KvK Number
42037850
VAT ID
NL005448019B44
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