zitje

Zitje is a Dutch noun meaning a small seat or a small seating area. It is formed with the diminutive suffix -je from the verb zitten (to sit), and it typically refers to a compact, comfortable place to sit rather than a full-sized chair. The word can describe both physical furniture and designated areas within a space.

Common uses include a cozy corner or niche in a room, such as a reading nook or a booth in a café, where there is a small, intimate seating arrangement. In everyday language, people also speak of “een zitje aan tafel,” “een zitje bij het raam,” or “een zitje in de woonkamer” to indicate a specific place to sit. In public or transportation contexts, zitje can refer to a passenger seat or, in particular, a kinderzitje (child seat) on a bicycle or in a car, though the more specific terms kinderzitje or autostoel are also common.

Zitje is typically more informal and cozy in nuance than zitplaats, which is a more neutral or formal term for any seat or seating position. The diminutive form often conveys comfort, intimacy, or a small-scale seating option, whereas zitplaats can denote the existence or allocation of seating in a broader sense, such as in arrangements, venues, or schedules.

See also: zitplaats; kinderzitje; autostoel.