Johan Huibers is the 50-year-old builder of the Dutch ark. A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine. Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and with occasional help from his son Roy. On the uncovered top deck is a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats, and one camel. The ark is one-fifth the size of the Biblical original. Visitors on the first day were stunned. Huibers said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands , where church going has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years.
Check out 12 more pics of the Noah’s ark replica after the jump.