diff --git a/astro.config.mjs b/astro.config.mjs
index cae0a10..4a6f308 100644
--- a/astro.config.mjs
+++ b/astro.config.mjs
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 import { defineConfig } from 'astro/config';
 import tailwindcss from '@tailwindcss/vite';
 import sitemap from '@astrojs/sitemap';
-import { readdirSync, existsSync } from 'node:fs';
-import { getScope, resolveScopeId, SCOPES } from './src/config/scopes.ts';
+import { getScope, resolveScopeId } from './src/config/scopes.ts';
 
 // One codebase, three real domains. SITE_SCOPE=nl|be|eu picks which one this build is; see
 // src/config/scopes.ts. Astro resolves `site` and `i18n.locales` at build time rather than per
@@ -12,36 +11,6 @@ const scopeId = resolveScopeId(process.env.SITE_SCOPE);
 const scope = getScope(scopeId);
 console.log(`[scope] building ${scopeId} -> ${scope.site} [${scope.locales.join(', ')}]`);
 
-// Locale routes exist as real directories under src/pages/<locale>/, so i18n.locales does NOT
-// gate them: a build whose scope drops a locale would still emit that locale's pages. Astro can
-// only skip a route that is dynamic, so until src/pages/<locale>/ becomes a [locale] route this
-// mismatch has to fail loudly rather than ship a .eu site full of Dutch pages.
-const ALL_LOCALES = new Set(Object.values(SCOPES).flatMap((s) => s.locales));
-const routeLocales = existsSync('./src/pages')
-  ? readdirSync('./src/pages', { withFileTypes: true })
-      .filter((e) => e.isDirectory() && ALL_LOCALES.has(e.name))
-      .map((e) => e.name)
-  : [];
-const orphans = routeLocales.filter((l) => !scope.locales.includes(l));
-if (orphans.length) {
-  throw new Error(
-    `Scope "${scopeId}" declares locales [${scope.locales.join(', ')}], but src/pages/ still ` +
-      `contains route directories for [${orphans.join(', ')}], which this build would emit ` +
-      `anyway. Convert src/pages/<locale>/ to a [locale] dynamic route whose getStaticPaths ` +
-      `reads the scope before building this scope.`,
-  );
-}
-// The mirror case: a scope declaring a locale that has no pages yet. A warning, not an error --
-// a scope may legitimately be defined before its translations exist -- but silence here would
-// mean shipping .be with its French half quietly missing.
-const missing = scope.locales.slice(1).filter((l) => !routeLocales.includes(l));
-if (missing.length) {
-  console.warn(
-    `[scope] WARNING: scope "${scopeId}" declares locale(s) [${missing.join(', ')}] with no ` +
-      `src/pages/<locale>/ directory. Those languages will be advertised but not served.`,
-  );
-}
-
 // https://astro.build/config
 export default defineConfig({
   site: scope.site,
diff --git a/src/config/scopes.ts b/src/config/scopes.ts
index 3b0fcaa..0c5ccaa 100644
--- a/src/config/scopes.ts
+++ b/src/config/scopes.ts
@@ -46,7 +46,10 @@ export const SCOPES: Record<ScopeId, Scope> = {
   be: {
     site: 'https://atproto.be',
     countries: ['be'],
-    locales: ['en', 'nl', 'fr'],
+    // French is the goal for .be and half its audience, but the UI string catalogue has no `fr`
+    // entries, so building it produces French URLs containing English -- worse than not offering
+    // it. Add 'fr' here in the same change that adds the French strings, not before.
+    locales: ['en', 'nl'],
     aggregate: false,
     relatedLangs: ['nl', 'fr'],
     joinCountries: ['be'],
diff --git a/src/i18n/paths.ts b/src/i18n/paths.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7b747f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/i18n/paths.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+// Locale routing for the scope-driven builds.
+//
+// Locale pages used to exist as real files (src/pages/about.astro + src/pages/nl/about.astro).
+// That made `i18n.locales` decorative: a .eu build declaring English-only still emitted every
+// Dutch page, because Astro cannot skip a route that exists on disk. Only a DYNAMIC route can
+// opt out, which is what this enables — one `src/pages/[...lang]/about.astro` whose
+// getStaticPaths asks the scope which locales to build.
+//
+// The rest parameter is what keeps the default locale at the root: `lang: undefined` produces
+// /about, `lang: 'nl'` produces /nl/about. That matches `prefixDefaultLocale: false`.
+
+import { getScope } from '../config/scopes';
+
+const scope = getScope(import.meta.env.PUBLIC_SITE_SCOPE);
+
+export const LOCALES = scope.locales;
+export const DEFAULT_LOCALE = scope.locales[0];
+
+export type Lang = string;
+
+/** getStaticPaths() for every localized page. */
+export function localePaths() {
+  return LOCALES.map((locale, i) => ({
+    // The default locale takes the bare path; the rest are prefixed.
+    params: { lang: i === 0 ? undefined : locale },
+    props: { lang: locale },
+  }));
+}
+
+/** Resolve the locale for a request, tolerating a missing rest param. */
+export function langOf(params: { lang?: string }): Lang {
+  return params.lang ?? DEFAULT_LOCALE;
+}
+
+/** Pick a value for the current locale, falling back to the default locale's value.
+ *
+ * A scope can declare a locale before its copy exists (.be declares fr today). Falling back is
+ * better than an empty <title>, but it is a stopgap: untranslated pages should be visible, so
+ * missing keys warn at build time rather than passing silently. */
+export function t<T>(table: Record<string, T>, lang: Lang, what = 'value'): T {
+  if (lang in table) return table[lang];
+  console.warn(`[i18n] missing ${what} for locale "${lang}"; falling back to "${DEFAULT_LOCALE}"`);
+  return table[DEFAULT_LOCALE];
+}
diff --git a/src/pages/[...lang]/about.astro b/src/pages/[...lang]/about.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a731ec7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pages/[...lang]/about.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+import AboutPage from '../../components/pages/AboutPage.astro';
+import { localePaths } from '../../i18n/paths';
+
+// One route per locale the scope declares; a scope that drops a locale simply does not build it.
+export const getStaticPaths = localePaths;
+
+const { lang } = Astro.props;
+---
+
+<AboutPage lang={lang} />
diff --git a/src/pages/[...lang]/builders.astro b/src/pages/[...lang]/builders.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..534e536
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pages/[...lang]/builders.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+import BuildersPage from '../../components/pages/BuildersPage.astro';
+import { localePaths } from '../../i18n/paths';
+
+// One route per locale the scope declares; a scope that drops a locale simply does not build it.
+export const getStaticPaths = localePaths;
+
+const { lang } = Astro.props;
+---
+
+<BuildersPage lang={lang} />
diff --git a/src/pages/[...lang]/community-size.astro b/src/pages/[...lang]/community-size.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3b255e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pages/[...lang]/community-size.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+---
+import Base from '../../layouts/Base.astro';
+import CommunitySizePage from '../../components/pages/CommunitySizePage.astro';
+import { nlStats } from '../../data/nl-stats';
+import { localePaths, t } from '../../i18n/paths';
+
+export const getStaticPaths = localePaths;
+
+const { lang } = Astro.props;
+
+// The modelled figure stays in the metadata even though the page leads with the counted
+// one: it is the number that gets quoted, and it should travel with its ~ attached.
+const est = nlStats.estimate.modelledNl.toLocaleString(lang === 'nl' ? 'nl-NL' : 'en-GB');
+
+// The only page whose <title>/<description> differ per locale beyond what the component
+// handles. Kept next to the route rather than in a global message catalogue so the copy stays
+// visible to whoever edits the page.
+const TITLES: Record<string, string> = {
+  en: 'How many Dutch accounts are on AT Protocol?',
+  nl: 'Hoeveel Nederlandse accounts zitten er op AT Protocol?',
+};
+const DESCRIPTIONS: Record<string, string> = {
+  en: `AT Protocol has no country field, so we publish two numbers: the Dutch accounts we can point to, and a modelled total of around ${est}.`,
+  nl: `AT Protocol heeft geen landveld, dus publiceren we twee getallen: de Nederlandse accounts die we kunnen aanwijzen, en een gemodelleerd totaal van ongeveer ${est}.`,
+};
+---
+
+<Base lang={lang} title={t(TITLES, lang, 'title')} description={t(DESCRIPTIONS, lang, 'description')}>
+  <CommunitySizePage lang={lang} />
+</Base>
diff --git a/src/pages/[...lang]/events.astro b/src/pages/[...lang]/events.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e887ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pages/[...lang]/events.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+import EventsPage from '../../components/pages/EventsPage.astro';
+import { localePaths } from '../../i18n/paths';
+
+// One route per locale the scope declares; a scope that drops a locale simply does not build it.
+export const getStaticPaths = localePaths;
+
+const { lang } = Astro.props;
+---
+
+<EventsPage lang={lang} />
diff --git a/src/pages/[...lang]/index.astro b/src/pages/[...lang]/index.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93f17b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pages/[...lang]/index.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+import HomePage from '../../components/pages/HomePage.astro';
+import { localePaths } from '../../i18n/paths';
+
+// One route per locale the scope declares; a scope that drops a locale simply does not build it.
+export const getStaticPaths = localePaths;
+
+const { lang } = Astro.props;
+---
+
+<HomePage lang={lang} />
diff --git a/src/pages/[...lang]/login.astro b/src/pages/[...lang]/login.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba390e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pages/[...lang]/login.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+import LoginPage from '../../components/pages/LoginPage.astro';
+import { localePaths } from '../../i18n/paths';
+
+// One route per locale the scope declares; a scope that drops a locale simply does not build it.
+export const getStaticPaths = localePaths;
+
+const { lang } = Astro.props;
+---
+
+<LoginPage lang={lang} />
diff --git a/src/pages/[...lang]/members.astro b/src/pages/[...lang]/members.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e13b354
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pages/[...lang]/members.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+import MembersPage from '../../components/pages/MembersPage.astro';
+import { localePaths } from '../../i18n/paths';
+
+// One route per locale the scope declares; a scope that drops a locale simply does not build it.
+export const getStaticPaths = localePaths;
+
+const { lang } = Astro.props;
+---
+
+<MembersPage lang={lang} />
diff --git a/src/pages/[...lang]/privacy.astro b/src/pages/[...lang]/privacy.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb0101f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pages/[...lang]/privacy.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+import PrivacyPage from '../../components/pages/PrivacyPage.astro';
+import { localePaths } from '../../i18n/paths';
+
+// One route per locale the scope declares; a scope that drops a locale simply does not build it.
+export const getStaticPaths = localePaths;
+
+const { lang } = Astro.props;
+---
+
+<PrivacyPage lang={lang} />
diff --git a/src/pages/[...lang]/terms.astro b/src/pages/[...lang]/terms.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7f68c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pages/[...lang]/terms.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+import TermsPage from '../../components/pages/TermsPage.astro';
+import { localePaths } from '../../i18n/paths';
+
+// One route per locale the scope declares; a scope that drops a locale simply does not build it.
+export const getStaticPaths = localePaths;
+
+const { lang } = Astro.props;
+---
+
+<TermsPage lang={lang} />
diff --git a/src/pages/[...lang]/tools.astro b/src/pages/[...lang]/tools.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..acff618
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pages/[...lang]/tools.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+import ToolsPage from '../../components/pages/ToolsPage.astro';
+import { localePaths } from '../../i18n/paths';
+
+// One route per locale the scope declares; a scope that drops a locale simply does not build it.
+export const getStaticPaths = localePaths;
+
+const { lang } = Astro.props;
+---
+
+<ToolsPage lang={lang} />
diff --git a/src/pages/about.astro b/src/pages/about.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index d7238cc..0000000
--- a/src/pages/about.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import AboutPage from '../components/pages/AboutPage.astro';
----
-
-<AboutPage lang="en" />
diff --git a/src/pages/builders.astro b/src/pages/builders.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index 488c854..0000000
--- a/src/pages/builders.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import BuildersPage from '../components/pages/BuildersPage.astro';
----
-
-<BuildersPage lang="en" />
diff --git a/src/pages/community-size.astro b/src/pages/community-size.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index 207256e..0000000
--- a/src/pages/community-size.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
----
-import Base from '../layouts/Base.astro';
-import CommunitySizePage from '../components/pages/CommunitySizePage.astro';
-import { nlStats } from '../data/nl-stats';
-
-// The modelled figure stays in the metadata even though the page leads with the counted
-// one: it is the number that gets quoted, and it should travel with its ~ attached.
-const est = nlStats.estimate.modelledNl.toLocaleString('nl-NL');
----
-
-<Base
-  lang="en"
-  title="How many Dutch accounts are on AT Protocol?"
-  description={`AT Protocol has no country field, so we publish two numbers: the Dutch accounts we can point to, and a modelled total of around ${est}.`}
->
-  <CommunitySizePage lang="en" />
-</Base>
diff --git a/src/pages/events.astro b/src/pages/events.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index 56caf17..0000000
--- a/src/pages/events.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import EventsPage from '../components/pages/EventsPage.astro';
----
-
-<EventsPage lang="en" />
diff --git a/src/pages/index.astro b/src/pages/index.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index fca9c45..0000000
--- a/src/pages/index.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import HomePage from '../components/pages/HomePage.astro';
----
-
-<HomePage lang="en" />
diff --git a/src/pages/login.astro b/src/pages/login.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index 0e22b0b..0000000
--- a/src/pages/login.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import LoginPage from '../components/pages/LoginPage.astro';
----
-
-<LoginPage lang="en" />
diff --git a/src/pages/members.astro b/src/pages/members.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index 0a1563c..0000000
--- a/src/pages/members.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import MembersPage from '../components/pages/MembersPage.astro';
----
-
-<MembersPage lang="en" />
diff --git a/src/pages/nl/about.astro b/src/pages/nl/about.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index e41add6..0000000
--- a/src/pages/nl/about.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import AboutPage from '../../components/pages/AboutPage.astro';
----
-
-<AboutPage lang="nl" />
diff --git a/src/pages/nl/builders.astro b/src/pages/nl/builders.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index abfd6df..0000000
--- a/src/pages/nl/builders.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import BuildersPage from '../../components/pages/BuildersPage.astro';
----
-
-<BuildersPage lang="nl" />
diff --git a/src/pages/nl/community-size.astro b/src/pages/nl/community-size.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index a390351..0000000
--- a/src/pages/nl/community-size.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
----
-import Base from '../../layouts/Base.astro';
-import CommunitySizePage from '../../components/pages/CommunitySizePage.astro';
-import { nlStats } from '../../data/nl-stats';
-
-const est = nlStats.estimate.modelledNl.toLocaleString('nl-NL');
----
-
-<Base
-  lang="nl"
-  title="Hoeveel Nederlandse accounts zitten er op AT Protocol?"
-  description={`AT Protocol heeft geen landveld, dus publiceren we twee getallen: de Nederlandse accounts die we kunnen aanwijzen, en een gemodelleerd totaal van ongeveer ${est}.`}
->
-  <CommunitySizePage lang="nl" />
-</Base>
diff --git a/src/pages/nl/events.astro b/src/pages/nl/events.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index c741f9b..0000000
--- a/src/pages/nl/events.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import EventsPage from '../../components/pages/EventsPage.astro';
----
-
-<EventsPage lang="nl" />
diff --git a/src/pages/nl/index.astro b/src/pages/nl/index.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index 8e3daf9..0000000
--- a/src/pages/nl/index.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import HomePage from '../../components/pages/HomePage.astro';
----
-
-<HomePage lang="nl" />
diff --git a/src/pages/nl/login.astro b/src/pages/nl/login.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index ee1e80b..0000000
--- a/src/pages/nl/login.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import LoginPage from '../../components/pages/LoginPage.astro';
----
-
-<LoginPage lang="nl" />
diff --git a/src/pages/nl/members.astro b/src/pages/nl/members.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index af2472d..0000000
--- a/src/pages/nl/members.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import MembersPage from '../../components/pages/MembersPage.astro';
----
-
-<MembersPage lang="nl" />
diff --git a/src/pages/nl/privacy.astro b/src/pages/nl/privacy.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index db9ed19..0000000
--- a/src/pages/nl/privacy.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import PrivacyPage from '../../components/pages/PrivacyPage.astro';
----
-
-<PrivacyPage lang="nl" />
diff --git a/src/pages/nl/terms.astro b/src/pages/nl/terms.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index 029705c..0000000
--- a/src/pages/nl/terms.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import TermsPage from '../../components/pages/TermsPage.astro';
----
-
-<TermsPage lang="nl" />
diff --git a/src/pages/nl/tools.astro b/src/pages/nl/tools.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index 3c097cc..0000000
--- a/src/pages/nl/tools.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import ToolsPage from '../../components/pages/ToolsPage.astro';
----
-
-<ToolsPage lang="nl" />
diff --git a/src/pages/privacy.astro b/src/pages/privacy.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index d36fb2d..0000000
--- a/src/pages/privacy.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import PrivacyPage from '../components/pages/PrivacyPage.astro';
----
-
-<PrivacyPage lang="en" />
diff --git a/src/pages/terms.astro b/src/pages/terms.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index 476ded6..0000000
--- a/src/pages/terms.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import TermsPage from '../components/pages/TermsPage.astro';
----
-
-<TermsPage lang="en" />
diff --git a/src/pages/tools.astro b/src/pages/tools.astro
deleted file mode 100644
index 8893445..0000000
--- a/src/pages/tools.astro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
----
-import ToolsPage from '../components/pages/ToolsPage.astro';
----
-
-<ToolsPage lang="en" />