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Life-Sized Replica of Noah's Ark Will Sail to Israel

By Kayla Kunkel November 30, 2018 at 1:57pm

The Dutch contractor who built a full-scale replica of Noah’s ark has made plans to sail the massive ship to Israel.

In 1992, John Huibers had a dream in which massive waves overtook the Netherlands during a storm. Through the dream, Huibers felt like the Lord was showing him signs that another ark, similar to the arc the Lord directed Noah to build in Genesis, needed to be built.

“But this time not with the goal of saving people from a global flood, like Noah 4000 years ago, but to tell people that there is a God who loves us and who has a plan with our lives,” the website explained.

Less than a decade later, after researching and saving money to fund the project, Huibers began constructing a replica that was 9 meters wide, 13 meters high and 70 meters long.

In 2007 the half-size replica was opened to the public and began sailing around to various port cities in the Netherlands.

“I wanted to spread God’s word in the Netherlands,” he told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Over three years later, he sold the small replica to an organization that continued touring around the region so that he and his team of builders could fully focus on the original goal: a full-size replica of Noah’s ark.

Construction began in 2009 and was completed in 2012; it took almost $5 million to fund the project.

The full-size ark is 30 meters wide, 23 meters high, and 135 meters long and was built by amateur carpenters, which Huibers believes adds to the authenticity of the ark even more.

“We had a butcher, a hairdresser and a teacher working here,” he said. “We’re not professional boatmakers. A lot of stuff here is a bit crooked.” Huibers claims that the boat is still safe to the public.

It is currently not open to the public over safety concerns, but before closing, it featured a small petting zoo with rabbits, goats, wallabies and more.

The arc also features life-sized statues of animals like elephants, giraffes, and zebras, two amphitheaters, movie theaters and a restaurant.

After completing such a momentous task, Huibers just recently shared that he now plans to sail the large boat to Israel.

Since the ark has no motor, he needs to rent tugboats to pull it across the water, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.

“It may sound scary, but I believe everything written in this book, cover to cover,” he said, talking about the Bible. “This is a copy of God’s ship. It only makes sense to take it to God’s land.”

Huibers just hopes that his replica of Noah’s ark shows the legitimacy of the Bible and reminds people of God’s love for us and now he hopes that he can take that same message to Israel.

“I wanted children to come here and feel the texture of the wood, see the nails and see that what is written in the book is true,” he said.

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