speeltje

Speeltje is a Dutch noun meaning a toy or plaything, usually a small object used for play, especially by children. The form is the diminutive of speel (to play) with the suffix -tje, making it a familiar term for a small or endearing object. It is related to speelgoed, which denotes toys in a general sense.

Common speeltjes include dolls, toy cars, building blocks, puzzles, stuffed animals, and educational devices. The word can refer to a single object or collectively to items used for play; in ordinary speech it often contrasts with speelgoed in the sense of the broader category.

In modern contexts, speeltjes are produced for various age groups and are subject to safety regulations. In the EU, toys sold in the Netherlands and Belgium must comply with the Toy Safety Directive, bearing appropriate warnings and, in many cases, CE marking. Manufacturers and retailers emphasize age suitability, materials safety, and small-part hazards to prevent choking.

Historically, the concept of toys is ancient; the Dutch term developed in line with the broader vocabulary for play. Today, speletje remains a common everyday term for a child's or pet's plaything, as well as for objects used in play by adults in certain contexts.