Homepage with and without language subfolder

[Mat_C]

Hi all,

We are checking to optimize a website that has four language versions in subfolders.

When setting the self referencing canonicals and the hreflang tags, we came across a particular problem. Both the URL's example.com and example.com/nl are being indexed and have the same content in the same language.

For the other language versions, it is quite straightforward, but what to do with these two URL's? Currently, there is a canonical tag from example.com to example.com/nl. Is a simple 301 redirect to the URL with the language subfolder the best solution?

Something to consider: if a backlink points to example.com (without specifying the language subfolder), all the link juice will go to the /nl version and not to other versions (with a canonical as well as with a 301 of course).

Thanks!

[paints-n-design]

It is the "normal" way to do it, often times pages are looking for region or browser language and redirect, but thats not the question here.

Yes you may need to take care about some links you have control about in any way (yelp, linkedin, socials - whatever it is).  But I bet you link to all languages. Your Homepage  for example links to the other language-versions of the homepage. So the "juice"  you thought is going to one language, would be sent to the other languages in smaller portions.  How it should be, so no Problemo..