In Dutch, the diminutive is formed by adding -je to a noun, with spelling variations: -tje, -etje, -pje and -kje depending on the final sounds of the word. Huis becomes huisje, boom becomes boompje, man becomes mannetje, ding becomes dingetje. All diminutives are grammatically neuter (het-words) regardless of the original noun gender. So de vrouw (the woman) becomes het vrouwtje, which is still referred to as het.
Beyond indicating small size, Dutch diminutives carry connotations of endearment, casualness or even irony. Een kopje koffie does not mean a tiny cup — it is just the normal way to order coffee. Een biertje is a standard beer. Een momentje means just a moment. These forms are so common in everyday speech that using the full noun can sound stiff or formal in casual contexts.
Some diminutives have become independent words with their own meaning: het meisje (girl) from meid, het briefje (banknote or short note), het plankje (small shelf). Learning the diminutive of common nouns is a practical vocabulary-building strategy — you effectively learn two words for the price of one. Pay attention to which diminutive variant a word takes, as this depends on syllable count and the final consonant cluster.