Animal-World > Small Animal Pets > Pet Rabbits > Holland Lop Rabbits

Holland Lop Rabbits

Family: LeporidaeOrange Holland LopOryctolagus cuniculus Photo Courtesy: RedRose Rabbitry

   The cute Holland Lop is a delightful bunny, with adorable floppy ears!

   The Holland Lop is the smallest and the most popular of the lop-eared rabbits. Both the Holland Lop and the Mini Lop are miniature versions of the Lop-eared Rabbit. It is named after its home country, Holland where this breeds development started in 1949. The final breed as we know it today was finalized in the 1960's. It was brought into the United States in 1976, and it's popularity as a favorite pet continues to grow.

   These are very mellow smaller rabbits that are easy for beginners to handle and care for. This is a very sweet and affectionate animal. They love to play and hop around. Holland Lops don't require a lot of space and they eat less than bigger bunnies!

For more information about Rabbits and their care:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Rabbit

Background:    Adrian DeCock, of the Netherlands started developing the Holland Lop in 1949. He bred Netherland Dwarfs with French Lops in an attempt to produce a miniature French Lop but instead ended up with what is known today as the Holland lop.
   The Hollands were brought to the United States in 1976 by Aleck Brooks III who is the founder of the Holland Lop Rabbit Specialty Club. They were given breed status in the United States in 1979.

Description:    Holland Lops are a small loveable bunny who have wide long ears, which hang down near their cheeks. Their bone structure is supposed to look large and massive but they actually have a fine bone structure and they don't weigh that much. They have broad shoulders, deep chests, and short thick legs. Being the smallest lop-eared rabbit, their maximum adult size is 4.0 pounds but for showing they should be about 3.5 lbs.

Color differences:    Holland Lops come in many colors though they are especially seen in fawn, white, fawn and white, black and white, and tortoise shell colors. Some Holland Lop color variations are shown below:

Holland Lop Color Varieties
Blue Holland Lop	Blue Tortoise Shell
Broken Smoke Pearl	Broken Black
All photos courtesy: RedRose Rabbitry

Lastest Comments on Holland Lop Rabbits View all 417 comments on Holland Lop Rabbits Add Your Comment

Betty Mitch - 2012-01-06 What is the real differents in holland and mini holland . I want to see both at same time to see difference , is it just size or is there other ways to tell the differents in them . what colors is best for showing that judges look for if any . thank you Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2012-01-07 I believe the only difference is the size similar to a standard vs the toy poodle. As far as showing it would be best to go directly to the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA)to determine what points are given for the various qualities in that breed. They set the standards and standards do change. Reply

Calista - 2011-12-30 I have a handsome broken brown holland lop. his name is BoBo and he is a little lovey boy. He gives kisses and comes when I call his name, but the thing is he won't litter box train. He thinks the litter box is his bed and he thinks he's a dog. He thinks my pug, Cassie is his mom. Cassie took him as her son since she always wanted puppies. It's the sweetest thing and I love him so much. I definitely recommend this breed of bunny. Click For Replies (1) Jelena - 2012-01-04 Hi, Calista, Holland Lops are definetely the cutest bunnies. I have two baby females :) With potty training you just have to be persistent ( to put bunnies droppings and soiled bedding in the litter box); it's a long process and sometimes frustrating, but not impossible. I trained Kiki (my older female- 4,5 month), and now she's out of her cage all day; we're currently training Lily (3month), and she's almost done with training.You can also try to put little hay near his litter box- he's more likely to do it while he's eating (works for Kiki and Lily) As far as lying in the litter box, it's normal thing for rabbits. You can put a smaller litter box ( not as comfortable), if you want to change that behavior. Wow, it's great that he gets along well with a dog! We were thinking about getting one, but we're not sure how it will work. Jelena Reply

Desiree - 2011-09-26 I rescued a holland lop two days ago. It is a female, and I named her floppy. I woke up this morning, and there were six baby lops laying on my floor. Three are alive, and three passed on! I love them, I just wish I would have known she was prego. it was surprising. So wish me luck in my new babies! I'll keep you guys updated on how the sweethearts are doing!! XD Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-09-26 That had to be a big surprise. Lots of luck with them and take pictures and let us know. OK? Kathleen Carlstedt - 2011-12-21 How about posting some pictures of Floppys 3 babies? I'd love to get a very young lop so it can be trained to do just about anything. Currently, I have Oliver - a 3 pound black male holland lop, 5 yrs old (bought him and his brother, Snickers (he died from hair ball blockage at 2 yrs and 9 monts old and he is the sweetest thing!), a gray/white patched female hare at 5-6 yrs old now (Smokie is even sweeter; adopted from a co-worker at 2-3 yrs old and she weighs 5 pounds and a black english lop, Ariel, who was also adopted from a co-worker at 1-1/2 yrs old and weighs 4 pounds - he is quite a character and oh so funny to watch. All 3 live in a 10 x 20 chicken-wired room in my basement; room equipped with a ramp up to a ledge with 2 boxes on either side and a tube connecting them for endless fun. They are all litter box trained. The 2 bigger rabbits go up and down the stairs and thru a doggie door in the kitchen out to the back yard, which has a privacy fence to keep them in and any other animal out of the yard. The 3 pound holland lop is too small to do stairs so he is always carried out. I just love anything that has to do with rabbits! Even though they can be quite messy, the enjoyment and laughter they give me outweighs the clean-ups. Do you give Floppy pumpkin pie mixture 2-3 times a week to break down hairballs? Very effective and mine just love the flavor. Just a little less than a teaspoon is all they need 2-3 times a week to avoid surgery to remove the hairball. Please keep me updated on your little ones, and if possible, take videos of them playing with each other. I love it when they do their little wiggles and twist/turn in the air. You can send pics or videos to my facebook account if you want to. Thanks and I look forward to seeing the kids. Reply

Britt - 2011-11-06 Well, I really would like to get a Holland Lop. But a young one. The only problem is I cannot find any breeders. I live in Iowa. Does anyone know of any breeders near Des Moines? Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-11-07 Try calling any rabbit breeder. There should be some listed in the newspaper - or even an animal shelter. You can ask if they know of a Holland Lop breeder near your area. Ainslee - 2011-12-13 If you haven't found one yet, try arba.net. Under member resources there's a find a breeder section. Don't know if there's any in your area, but these are all reputable breeders. Reply

Jessica - 2011-09-03 Hello everyone I just rescued a mini lop bunny I named him thumper and fits him well lol but he just started sheding. I'm guessing he not old but he lose brush full of hair and I've only had him 3 months. I got him from a bad home where they weren't taking good care of him he was skinny an smelled like cat pee now he's healthy but I dont know how offten they shed. He's my frist mini lop. His buddy is a dutch and his name is killer lol Click For Replies (3) Toby Jungle - 2011-09-03 They shed big time this time of the year and then again after winter. Brush them removing all lose hair a few times a week - preferably every day while shedding. They are prone to hairballs which can cause an obtruction and you don't want that. So just brush and remove lose hair. I like a gals fine wire brush for this. weezer - 2011-10-08 My lop sheds all the time. The hair is so fine you don't see it. Vaccuum a lot. Brushed mine daily but I did not use wire use natural bristle. Their skin is sensitive. They'll enjoy it more and let you do it Rachel Myers-Jordan - 2011-12-10 Hi I have a dwarf Holland Lop name 'Jeff the Bunny' he sheds at the beginning of every season so about 4 times a year. His color changes slighly with each season too which is cool. Rachel Reply

stephanie - 2011-08-19 Would a holland lop rabbit be a good first time bunny for me if not which one?1 Click For Replies (3) Charlie Roche - 2011-08-20 From my daughter having one to everything that people have posted and everything I have read, a Lop is about the best pet in the entire rabbit family. They are easily litter trained, comical, love their humans, easy to care for, healthy, lovable and total comics. kyara - 2011-09-14 Absolutely, I have 1 and her name is pumkin and she is prego and I have 3 2 yrs old kids. They are very well natured if you get them as a baby that way you can train them and they know you better hope you have luck mykala - 2011-11-06 Yes a (kit) baby holland lop is way more energetic and when they're full adults they get tired and less energetic so really they would but the male pees and poops a lot while the female has a less pee and poopness so what I'm trying to say is that a female may not cost or need much while the male they eat nonstop and poop, pee and waste so much bedding and beds. I have two bunnys and 1 male 1 female they had babies but they died don't do that instead get 2 females or sisters they won't fight or kill each other so please don't ever force them to breed I'm a humane society follower so I try to stop this from happening oh and huge time males will hump you nonstop and I'm not saying what happens when you feel a wet slimy like worm on your leg its their you know so I'm not saying you should not get one I'm saying how they would do. But males are cuddly and love to cuddle and are calm. One time I pushed him by my stomach and he laid down and feel asleep. Reply

Add your comment!

View all 417 comments on Holland Lop Rabbits

Back to Pet Rabbits