Dutchman’s Ark

“Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.” [Genesis 6:14]

Dutch creationist Johan Huibers had a dream that someday Holland would be flooded. That led to his building a replica of Noah’s ark, complete with life-size animals. The seaworthy ark is only half the size of Noah’s original, but it is still nearly 230 feet long, 45 feet high, and 30 feet wide. Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, and bison are included in the ark’s interior. Even with all the animals it still has room for a 50-seat theater, where the story of Noah’s flood is retold. Eventually there will even be a petting zoo, with lambs, chickens, goats, and one camel. The total cost of the project was estimated to be around $1.2 million.

Johan also built the ark as testament to his literal belief in the Bible. He said, “This will speak very much to children, because it will give them something tangible to see that Noah’s ark really existed.” Assisted by his son, the 47-year-old contractor spent nearly two years building the ark by the water in Schagen, 30 miles north of Amsterdam.

As far as possible he has tried to remain true to the ark proportions described in the Bible, but Johan’s ark is constructed with American cedar and Norwegian pine rather than “gopher wood.” Biblical scholars are still not exactly sure what kind of wood that was. When the ark opened its doors in April 2007, visitors were stunned by its size. They think the Netherlands is probably the right place for an ark to be built. With all the talk of global warming, some fear Holland will be the first place flooded if the polar caps melt much faster. Johan’s ark is a fully functional model and will even meet all the naval, fire, and animal rights regulations. Mr. Huibers plans to sail the ark through the interior waters around Holland. He’s praying this colossal exhibit will help renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, which has dramatically fallen in the past 50 years.

So will there be another global flood before Jesus returns? After Noah left the ark when the flood waters receded, the Bible says, “Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth” (Genesis 9:11). We are assured our world will not be destroyed again by water. But the Lord has warned that someday the earth will be cleansed by fire.