Holland lop
The Holland lop was developed in the Netherlands by Adriaan de Cock, who crossed a French lop with a Netherland dwarf to make a lop small enough to be a house rabbit.
It was recognised in 1964 and has become one of the most popular pet rabbit breeds in the world.
It is a compact, muscular little rabbit of around one and a half kilograms with a broad flat head, a short muzzle and the lop's characteristic dropped ears framing the face. Temperament is generally friendly and easy-going, and the small size and appearance are what account for the breed's popularity — though the flat face brings specific problems.
- Origin
- Netherlands, recognised 1964
- Size
- 1.3–1.8 kg
- Lifespan
- 7–12 years
- Coat
- Short, dense and glossy
- Temperament
- Friendly, generally easy-going, playful
- Recognition
- Very widely kept
Related: Netherland dwarf · American fuzzy lop
3 holland lop photos, newest first
Living with a holland lop
Grooming is light — a weekly brush, more when moulting.
Two breed-specific issues matter. The shortened skull crowds the teeth, and dental malocclusion is genuinely common in Holland lops; the back teeth cannot be seen without a vet's scope, so an annual dental check is worthwhile and any drooling, dropped food or weight loss is a warning. And lopped ears do not drain or ventilate as upright ones do, so check them regularly for wax build-up and infection.
Otherwise standard: neutered pairs, generous space, hay-first diet, annual myxomatosis and RHD vaccination.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual rabbits vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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