Holland Lop rabbit
The Holland Lop is a small lop-eared show and pet rabbit with an ARBA maximum weight of 4 lb. It is short-coated, needs at least an 18 × 24 in cage and is easy to find: it is one of ARBA's five most popular breeds. Small rabbits are often more fragile and higher energy than large ones, so keep an adult close by when young children handle it.
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
- Space needed
- 3 sq ft
Is the Holland Lop right for you?
Good fit if
- You want a small lop-eared rabbit: ARBA's maximum weight is 4 lb
- You want a show breed with a national club: it is one of ARBA's five most popular
- You can give it at least an 18 × 24 in cage, Utah State's minimum for a rabbit of 5 lb or less
Poor fit if
- You want a meat rabbit: ARBA's maximum weight for this breed is only 4 lb
- Young children would be handling it without an adult close by
- Your rabbits would sit in a hot yard with no shade
Appearance and varieties
ARBA sums the breed up as compact size paired with a large head and lopped ears, and gives it a maximum weight of 4 lb. Ohio State University Extension's 2016 study guide counts it among five recognised lop-eared breeds and files it under the compact body type.
The breed club asks for a short, massive, wide-set body with equal width, depth and length, on short, straight, heavily boned legs. The head should look massive and sit high and close to the shoulders, with a short, round muzzle.
The ears are thick, wide and well furred with rounded tips, and hang close to the cheeks, balanced with the head and equal to or slightly longer than the jaw. They fall from the crown, a ridge across the top of the head that the club calls one of the breed's most important features.
The coat is a rollback about 1 in long: glossy, dense and fine. Holland Lops are shown in two groups, solid and broken, and ARBA's guide lists 48 colours for registration.13410
Temperament and handling
The breed club says the Holland Lop has an endearing temperament, and ARBA says the breed was created to be smaller and easier to handle than the French Lop.
What follows applies to small rabbits generally. Utah State University Extension notes that small breeds are often higher energy and more fragile than large ones. It advises that an adult supervises young children, and that you sit down to handle a rabbit, because rabbits frighten easily and have delicate bodies.
Rabbits groom themselves and don't need baths. Comb gently during shedding season, and check nails every 6 weeks.417
Animals vary within a breed. Treat this as what to expect, not a promise, and meet the animal before you buy if you can.
Breeding
What to expect from a healthy doe. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gestation | 28–32 days6 | Give the doe a nest box by day 28. Figure for rabbits in general. |
| First breeding age | 4–6 months616 | ARBA's recommendation for small breeds. New Hampshire Extension lists the Holland Lop as a small breed. |
| Weaning | 6–8 weeks6 | ARBA's recommendation for best growth; always before 10 weeks. Figure for rabbits in general. |
Planning a litter? Use the rabbit gestation calculator.
Housing, feed and health
Housing
For a rabbit of 5 lb or less, Utah State University Extension gives a minimum cage of 18 in deep, 24 in wide and 12 in high, and adds that bigger is better: the rabbit should be able to lie down and hop at least twice in each direction.
ARBA gives 55–70°F as the ideal range. Rabbits acclimated to cold cope well with it; they do poorly above 85°F, so give shade and moving air in summer. Avoid cedar chips as bedding.76
Feed
For a pet rabbit, Utah State University Extension recommends unlimited water, grass hay as about 80% of the diet, leafy greens as about 10%, and small amounts of pellets and treats. Its pellet guide is ¼–½ cup per 6 lb of rabbit.
Change feeds slowly over a few days. The same guide warns that a sudden change of diet can cause fatal gut upset.7
Health
Rabbit teeth grow all their lives, so give something safe to chew. Summer heat is a risk: Alabama Extension says rabbits don't cope well above 90°F and in high humidity. Penn State Extension lists cleanliness, good ventilation, close observation and protection from sun and rain as the basics of keeping rabbits healthy.
This is a starting point, not medical advice. For any health concern, ask a vet who treats rabbits, or your county extension office.71314
Price and where to buy
Prices are per rabbit, read from two breeders' listings on 2026-10-09. One listed 8-week-old Holland Lops at $150–200 for litters ready in October and December 2025. The other listed six at $250–375, ready in September and October 2026, on a page marked current as of 10/08/2026. Neither listing says whether a rabbit is pet or show quality.
Where to look
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ARBA Find a Breeder | Directory | Paid breeder listings, with breed, city and state |
| Holland Lop Rabbit Specialty Club | Breed club | National club; show dates and affiliated local clubs |
| Ellie's Rabbitry | Breeder | Kentucky; $150–200 on its October and December 2025 list |
| Redhill Rabbitry (SunnySoCalBunnies) | Breeder | Southern California; $250–375 in autumn 2026 |
Budgeting for housing and feed as well? See the rabbit cost guide.
Similar breeds
| Breed | Adult weight | Litter size | Beginner | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holland Lop (this breed) | Up to 4 lb | $150–$375 | ||
| Mini Lop | Up to 6.5 lb |
History
Adriann de Cock of Tilburg, in the Netherlands, admired the Netherland Dwarf and the French Lop but thought the French Lop too big. His first cross, in the winter of 1949–50, failed. In 1951 a French Lop doe bred to a Dwarf buck gave a litter of six, all with upright ears. In 1952 he bred a doe from that litter to an English Lop buck, then crossed the two litters to fix the lopped ear.
By 1955 he had lops of 2.5–3 kg (about 5½–6½ lb). In January 1964 he showed four rabbits, each under 2 kg (about 4.4 lb), and the Dutch rabbit council recognised the breed. A Dutch club founded in 1970 set out to bring the upper weight down to 1.5 kg (about 3.3 lb). In Europe the breed is called the Dwarf Lop.
Aleck Brooks imported many of the first American rabbits from de Cock. ARBA accepted the breed in 1979, and the Holland Lop Rabbit Specialty Club held its organising meeting in April 1980. At the club's first ARBA Convention, in Milwaukee, 11 exhibitors showed 27 Hollands. A Holland Lop first won Best in Show at the ARBA Convention in 1997.11151
Common questions
How big do Holland Lops get?
ARBA's maximum weight for a Holland Lop is 4 lb. Its public page gives no minimum.1
What colours do Holland Lops come in?
They are shown in two groups, solid and broken. ARBA's guide lists 48 colours for registration, including black, blue, chocolate, lilac, chestnut agouti, chinchilla, opal, orange, cream, frosty, red, sable point, tortoise, otter, steel, pointed white, blue eyed white and ruby eyed white, plus four tri-colours.104
How much does a Holland Lop cost?
On the two breeder listings we checked, Holland Lops were $150–375 each. One breeder asked $150–200 in late 2025; the other asked $250–375 in autumn 2026.89
Where do Holland Lops come from?
The Netherlands. Adriann de Cock of Tilburg developed the breed from French Lop, Netherland Dwarf and English Lop crosses starting in 1949. The Dutch rabbit council recognised it in 1964 and ARBA in 1979.111
Is a Holland Lop a good first rabbit?
We rate it 4 out of 5 for beginners. It is small and popular, and the breed club credits it with an endearing temperament. Utah State University Extension notes that small rabbits are often more fragile and higher energy than large ones, so an adult should supervise young children.5147
What size cage does a Holland Lop need?
Utah State University Extension gives a minimum of 18 in deep, 24 in wide and 12 in high for a rabbit of 5 lb or less, and says bigger is better. That is 3 sq ft of floor.7
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, Recognized breeds: Holland Lop.
- Utah State University Extension, Understanding the Basics of Rabbit Care.
- Ohio State University Extension, Ashtabula County, Study Tips for Rabbit Breeds, revised 2016 (PDF).
- Holland Lop Rabbit Specialty Club, Breed Information.
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, hosted by University of New Hampshire Extension, ARBA Recommendations for the Care of Rabbits and Cavies.
- Utah State University Extension, Pet Rabbit Projects: Getting Started (PDF).
- Ellie's Rabbitry, Available Holland Lops, October and December 2025 litters (PDF).
- Redhill Rabbitry (SunnySoCalBunnies), Available Bunnies.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, ARBA Official Breed ID Guide: Rabbit (updated January 2026).
- Holland Lop Rabbit Specialty Club, Breed History: Holland Lop History.
- The Livestock Conservancy, Conservation Priority List.
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Summer Heat and Rabbit Production, UNP-0082 (PDF).
- Penn State Extension, Rabbit Production.
- Holland Lop Rabbit Specialty Club, HLRSC History.
- University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, Getting Started in Your Rabbit Project (PDF).
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