The Flemish Giant is the rabbit breed developed in Belgium and often called the “King of Rabbits” because of its great size.
The breed descends from large meat and fur rabbits developed in the Flemish region. Written references to Flemish Giant rabbits appear in the nineteenth century, and the animals later became popular in Britain and the United States. Their large bodies and calm temperaments made them useful as meat animals and attractive as exhibition rabbits.
Flemish Giants are not a single color: recognized varieties include black, blue, fawn, light gray, steel gray, sandy, and white. They require more space, food, and sturdy equipment than small rabbit breeds, and their bones and joints need careful handling.
Size records vary with breed standards and individual condition, so “giant” does not mean every rabbit reaches the same weight. The breed’s defining feature is its exceptional scale compared with ordinary domestic rabbits.