Dutch man builds an exact scale replica of Noah’s Ark

Johan Huibers in front of the replica of Noah's Ark he created.

A working replica of Noah’s Ark opened In Schagen, Netherlands. Man Builds Noah’s Ark to the exact scale given in the Bible.

The massive central door in the side of Noah’s Ark was opened and the first crowd of curious townsfolk beheld the wonder. This replica of the biblical Ark was built by Dutch Creationist Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.

Door of Noah's Ark replica

The ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That’s two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house.

Look inside Noah's Ark replica

Life-sized models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.

Life size model of giraffe in replica of Noah's Ark

A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine. Biblical scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.

Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and with occasional help from his son Roy Construction. Work began in May 2005. On the uncovered top deck …. not quite ready in time for the opening …. will be a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats, and one camel.

Visitors on the first day were stunned. ‘It’s beyond comprehension’, said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape.

Visitors view life-size replica of Noah's Ark

‘I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so big! ‘ There is enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater where kids can watch a video that tells the story of Noah and his ark. Huibers, a Christian man, said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, where churchgoing has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years.

Enough space near the keel of Noah's Ark for a 50-seat film theater