It came close to extinction in the 1950s, but was saved by cross-breeding with unrelated goats, and by 2020 numbered over 2000 head.

[2][4] The Dutch Landrace has been known in the Netherlands since the seventeenth century,[3]: 376  and was common until the early twentieth century, when Swiss Saanen and Toggenburg goats were imported in large numbers and cross-bred with local stock.

[3]: 376 [6]: 137 The Dutch Landrace is stocky and of medium size, with fairly short legs.

It may be of any colour but may not display Swiss markings; it is commonly black, blue, brown, grey, white or "wild-coloured".

[5] The horns are commonly lyre-shaped, scimitar-shaped or twisted, and may reach 100 cm in length.