schachtje

Schachtje is a Dutch diminutive noun formed from schacht, meaning shaft. The suffix -je indicates a smaller or subordinate version. The term is used primarily in Dutch-speaking contexts and appears in mining literature, civil engineering, and everyday language to denote a small shaft or hole.

In mining and geology, schachtje refers to a small vertical or inclined opening that provides access to a mine level, allows drainage, or enables ventilation and exploration on a limited scale. It contrasts with larger, permanent shafts.

In building and urban infrastructure, schachtje is used to describe a slender vertical conduit for utilities or ventilation—such as a shaft within a wall or under a street—to route pipes or cables or to provide air passage. The adjective size implied by schachtje often signals a narrow, temporary, or service-oriented feature rather than a primary structural shaft.

Regionally, the word is common in the Netherlands and in Belgian Dutch usage. Its precise meaning is determined by context and may be specified by additional modifiers, for example schachtje voor drainage or schachtje voor ventilatie.