Rabbit: Holland Lop

Origins: Dutch rabbit fancier Adrian De Cock wanted to breed a rabbit that had the large, floppy ears of the French Lop and the compact body of a Netherland Dwarf. He started in 1949 or 1950, and after many unsatisfactory results, he presented the breed more or less as we know it in 1964.

Size: Small. Weighs no more than 4 pounds.

Physical Appearance: Well-muscled, compact, and balanced. Head is large in proportion to the body, and the rabbit has a “no neck” appearance. Short, heavy-boned legs. Ears floppy and “bell” shaped, reaching slightly below the chin. These features all add up to a very cute looking bunny.

Characteristics: Affectionate, active, playful, needs plenty of space to move about despite its small size.

Colors: Is bred in numerous hues that are classified into solid (unspotted) and broken (spotted) colors, within each of which are many other groups of colors acceptable to the breed standard.

Special Facts: The Holland Lop is considered the smallest of the lop-eared rabbits. Pet owners should not breed them as they are not only hard to breed, but some Holland Lop parents may pass on two dwarf genes to their babies—these young cannot survive.