The Holland Lop Rabbit is a friendly, intelligent breed of domesticated rabbits that makes a fantastic pet for both people that are new to this breed and longtime rabbit owners. The smallest of the Lop variety of rabbits, this cuddly companion weighs in at only 4lbs and has the long, adorable ears that are characteristic of Lop bunnies. Holland Lop’s coat comes in a variety of colors, and is either compact or has clumps of white hair mixed in. These playful bunnies love attention and make lively pets for both young children and adults.

Origin and History

The Holland Lop originated, as the name suggests, in the Netherlands. They were created through careful breeding of the Holland Dwarf Rabbit and the French Lop by a Dutchman named Adriann de Cock. The first attempt to mix these two breeds back in the 1950s was unsuccessful as the baby bunnies didn’t have the floppy ears that the French Lop was so well known for. Undeterred, he tried again by breeding the offspring of the first failed breeding with an English Lop. After a few tries, he succeeded, and so the Holland Lop was born.

The Holland Lop was awarded breed status in the Netherlands in 1962 by The Netherland’s Governing Rabbit council. A few years later, in 1976, the governing body in the United States, The American Rabbit Breeders Association, recognized the Holland Lop as a distinct breed.

Appearance

The Holland Lop bunny comes in a variety of recognized colors that include both solid coats and coats mixed into several patches of color. This breed has over 15 known coat shades, including chocolate, tortoise, opal, seal, orange, fawn, and tricolor. Pretty much every color variety you’re looking for can be found in these famous rabbits!

They’re a dwarf variety that will never get over 4lbs, and they have medium length soft fur that raises in a puff at the back of their neck called a “Crown, adding to their fuzziness. The breed’s pièces de résistance are their ears, long and flop down, a remarkable cute characteristic of all the Lop bunnies. With sturdy hind legs and a robust and compact body, jumping around is one of their favorite activity. 

Temperament and Behaviour

These lop-eared bunnies are extremely friendly and playful and will enjoy a lot of love and attention from their owners. The Holland Lops are an excellent choice for young children and new rabbit owners due to their sweet disposition, easy-going personality, with low maintenance necessities.

Because they’re so active, they need a few hours to hop around outside of their cage every day. They should also get some one-on-one playtime with all family members to reinforce the bond they develop with their humans. Toys are welcomed and will also help them to use that energy in the right way, working their mind and having an enjoyable playtime.

Health

Overall the Holland Lop is a healthy, disease-free rabbit. They don’t come with any significant health concerns that are breed-specific. All rabbits should benefit from annual vet check-ups, but also periodically to make sure that their teeth have not grown too long for their mouths as this can be quite painful. 

In addition to dental care, you should spay and neuter your rabbit. Bucks, or male rabbits, can be neutered as young as three months while does, or female rabbits, can be spayed at six months of age. A healthy Holland Lop should have a lifespan between seven and fourteen years.

Care Requirements

Generally, Holland Lops are rabbits easy to care for. All they require is proper housing, feeding, grooming, and they’ll remain happy and healthy for years to come. 

Housing

Holland Lops require a sturdy cage made of thick wires to spend most of their time and feel safe. For the bottom of the cage, you should choose bedding such as a thick layer of pine or spruce shavings so your bunny can rest comfortably. Clean the litter daily to ensure that your Holland Lop doesn’t get sick from spending time around their droppings. When looking for a cage, a large one is always appreciated, but choose one at least 1 1/5 feet by 2 feet to give your rabbit enough space to roam. 

If you decide to let your Holland Lop wander around the house, be sure they can’t chew any power cords or hurt themselves in any way. Bunny proofing a home is very similar to baby proofing in terms of what you want to protect them from. Nevertheless, bunnies should exercise for several hours a day, inside the house or outdoors, because they are quite active and need to consume that extra energy to live happy and healthy.

Feeding

Holland Lops should have a diet consisting mostly of hay. A healthy feed such as Timothy will help them file down their teeth, so they don’t grow too long and also provide balanced nutrition. Supplementing about 10-20% of this diet with pellets is a good idea. Vegetables, fruits, and other treats are always appreciated; however, the majority of your rabbit’s nutrition should come from their hay and pellets with fresh food and treats given sparingly. Be sure that there is always a clean water supply at its disposal and never let your Holland Lop drink from muddy water as the bacteria can cause health issues. 

Grooming

Holland Lops don’t require much in the way of grooming; however, you should brush them using a slicker brush once or twice a week to comb out the tangles and prevent knots from forming in their long fur. It would be best if you also trimmed their nails once a month to avoid health problems. Never bath your rabbit, it’s unnecessary, and it will cause too much stress to this delicate rodent. 

Helpful Tips and Advice

You can train a Holland Lops to do tricks since they are pretty intelligent and curious. Using one of their favorite treats, you can teach them to use the litter, and even to sit up onto their back legs on command, follow along beside you, or move through a basic obstacle course. The right food, a lot of patience, and love are great motivators for this rabbit. 

It’s essential to interact with your rabbit daily to develop a pleasant personality. If you carefully handle and play with your Holland Lops from a young age, you’ll gain their trust and will become cuddly lovable companions. 

A rabbit doesn’t need much in the way of accessories; however, they’ll appreciate some toys that they can toss around and wooden playthings that they can nibble through. Even pinecones and toilet paper rolls can provide some entertainment for your bunny. As long as you give your Holland Lop rabbit plenty of space, daily exercise, and one-on-one attention, you’ll have a happy bunny pet for years to come.