The Holland Lop rabbit is the smallest of the lop-eared breeds, topping out at four pounds. Originally from the Netherlands, this gentle breed is reported by the American Rabbit Breed Association (ARBA) as one of the top five most popular breeds they recognize.
History of the Holland Lop Rabbit
The Holland Lop rabbit is one of the newer breeds, making the history easier to track. First bred in Tilburg, Holland by Adriann de Cock, the Holland Lop was recognized as a breed in the Netherlands in 1964. They were immediately popular, and demand soon outstripped the supply. The breed spread rapidly throughout Europe.
Aleck Brook imported Holland Lops to the United States in 1975, and started the Holland Lop Rabbit Specialty Club for fans of the breed. Holland Lops were accepted into the ARBA in 1979. As of 2019, there were over 30 colors of Holland Lop recognized in the ARBA show circuit. These inclue self-agouti (chinchilla, castor agouti, opal, lynx), broken, self (black, blue, chocolate, lilac, white), shaded (frosted pearl, sable, sable point, seal, smoke pearl, tortoise), ticked (silver/silver fox, steel) and wide band (cream, fawn, orange, red).
Standards of Perfection
When showing Holland Lops, the head and body are the highest scoring areas. According to ARBA standards, the head should be round, large and with widely spaced eyes. The skull should be wide from ear to ear, with a short muzzle. A face that is too flat, or a head that is too small are common flaws.
The body of a Holland should be short and solid looking, while still being under four pounds. The chest should be broad, giving the front legs wide spacing. A high shoulder and non-existent neck are preferred. The hind end should be thick and sit completely on the ground. A long body is considered a serious flaw in the breed.
The ears and crown are worth 18 points in showing. Unlike most breeds, lops should not have any ear control and completely vertical presentation is preferred. The ears should be even with or just below the jawline, thick and wide at the base. The crown – where the ears connect to the skull – should have wide definition, with the ears should be directly behind the eyes. A crown that causes the ears to be pinched is a major flaw in the show ring.
Holland Lop Rabbit Care
Holland Lops are not only small, but friendly and easy to care for. Bucks are said to be more social than does, though even grumpier does can mellow with age. They weigh 2-4 pounds and require little space or exercise, making them good pets for older, mature children, or seniors. Rabbits are social animals, so raising them in pairs can be beneficial.
Unlike some of the other small rabbit breeds, Holland Lops have no focused health needs and live to about ten years old. They have a short, rollback coat that requires no specialized care, though brushing them out during molting season will help prevent blockages from hairballs. Occasional brushing and nail clipping is also helpful, especially if an older rabbit has difficulty grooming itself. Like any other rodent, Holland Lops will need toys or sticks to chew on to help their teeth wear down.
Due to their small size, some vets suggest being extra cautious about the diet you are feeding your rabbit since they cannot eat much. Those tiny bellies make it easy to spoil their dinner with treats! Still, good quality, 16% grain, fresh water and hay will help your rabbit meet their nutritional needs.
This article about the Holland Lop rabbit was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.
