Building Noah’s Ark
In 2005, a Dutch building contractor named Johan Huibers started to build a replica of Noah’s Ark with his own hands. The history of this Ark is very special. Johann Huibers tells the story, “In 1992 I had a dream where I dreamt that Holland disappeared in enormous masses of water…” But Huibers is not expecting a new flood. He sees it as his task to bring the Bible story back to people’s attention through the Ark replica.
“I want to let visitors visualize what the Ark looked like to bring the account closer to those who believe, but also to those who don’t.”
Fourteen years after Johan had his dream, he started building on the Ark in June 2005. This Ark in half of the original length of Noah’s Ark and a third of the width. The original Ark was 140 cubits long, and 23 cubits wide and 14 cubits high; This Ark is 70 cubits long, 9,5 cubits wide and nearly 13 cubits high.
Johann’s Ark is built on a barge that can be moved with a tug boat, allowing it to visit different places in Holland.
This working replica of Noah’s Ark opened In Schagen, Netherlands. The massive central door in the side of Noah’s Ark was opened first as a crowd of curious townsfolk gathered to behold the wonder. Of course, it’s only a replica of the biblical Ark, built by Dutch Creationist Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.
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. Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions,
crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold. 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 began in May 2005. On the uncovered top deck, not quite ready in time for the opening, will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats, and one camel.
Visitors on the first day were stunned. “It’s past 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. “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 church going has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years.
“Now that I am old and gray… give me the time to tell this new generation (and their children too) about all your mighty miracles.” - Psalm 71:18
For more information, visit www.arkvannoach.com
For pictures and another article, visit www.pbase.com/paulthedane/