Progress of the KiDS observations at the VST, in the four survey bands. Each Observing Block (OB) produces a square-degree co-added image. The i-band data, for which data taking was significantly faster because of less competition for bright time on the telescope, had covered the originally planned 1500 square degree footprint by the time it was decided to limit the survey to the 1350 square degree area that comprise the completed VIKING area. The dashed lines indicate the cutoff dates for KiDS-ESO data releases 1–4.