Even by Old Testament standards, the story of Noah and the Ark is pretty, well, Biblical in proportion.

All of the world's animals entering a giant boat in pairs to escape a flood designed to wipe out the rest of the world is one of the most enduring stories of all time.

noahs ark A full scale replica of Noah's Ark in seen in Dordrecht, Netherlands


Which is what makes the work of Johan Huibers all the more impressive. The Dutch artist has built a full-scale model of Noah's famous vessel and opened it to the public in the Netherlands.

Following the description laid out in the Genesis as closely as possible, 'Johan's Ark' measures 130 metres (427ft) long, 29 metres across and 23 metres high - though he had to draw the line at using 'gopher wood' as no one knows quite what material is. Instead he used a mixture of steel frames and American Cedar and Pine.

Huibers, who is a creationist, spent more than €1 million on the project which took 20 years to complete and can now receive up to 3,000 visitors a day who he hopes to educate about 'history and faith'.

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  • Interior view of the full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark with life-size replica's of animals which has opened its doors in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012, after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day. Interpreting the description given in Genesis, JohanÂ’s incredibly detailed interpretation measures in at a massive 130 meters (427 feet) long, 29 meters (95 feet) across and 23 meters (75 feet) high. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • A full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark in seen in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012. The Ark opened its doors in the Netherlands after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • A life-size replica of a crocodile's mouth is suspended from the full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark which opened its doors in Doredrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012, after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day. Stormy weather could do nothing to dampen the good mood of its creator, Dutchman Johan Huibers: in fact, the rain was appropriate. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • Interior view of the full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark with life-size replica's of animals which has opened its doors in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012, after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day. Stormy weather could do nothing to dampen the good mood of its creator, Dutchman Johan Huibers: in fact, the rain was appropriate. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood.(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • Johan Huibers looks up to the sky when showing journalists the inside of the full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012. The Ark has opened its doors in the Netherlands after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood. JohanÂ’s incredibly detailed interpretation measures in at a massive 130 meters (427 feet) long, 29 meters (95 feet) across and 23 meters (75 feet) high. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • Johan Huibers, center, shows journalists the inside of the full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012. The Ark has opened its doors in the Netherlands after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood. JohanÂ’s incredibly detailed interpretation measures in at a massive 130 meters (427 feet) long, 29 meters (95 feet) across and 23 meters (75 feet) high. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • Life-seize replica's of penguins are seen outside a full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark which has opened its doors in Doredrecth, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012, after receiving permission to host up to 3,000 visitors per day. Stormy weather could do nothing to dampen the good mood of its creator, Dutchman Johan Huibers: in fact, the rain was appropriate. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • Johan Huibers poses with a stuffed tiger in front of the full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark after being asked by a photographer to go outside with the animal in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012. The Ark has opened its doors in the Netherlands after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • Johan Huibers poses for a portrait in front of the full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012. The Ark has opened its doors in the Netherlands after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • Johan Huibers answers questions during an interview inside the full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012. The Ark has opened its doors in the Netherlands after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • Johan Huibers answers questions during an interview inside the full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012. The Ark has opened its doors in the Netherlands after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • A life-size replica of a penguin stands outside a full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark which has opened its doors in Doredrecth, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012, after receiving permission to host up to 3,000 visitors per day. Stormy weather could do nothing to dampen the good mood of its creator, Dutchman Johan Huibers: in fact, the rain was appropriate. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

  • A life-size replica of a giraffe overlooks Merwede river from a full scale replica of NoahÂ’s Ark which opened its doors in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012, after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day. Stormy weather could do nothing to dampen the good mood of its creator, Dutchman Johan Huibers: in fact, the rain was appropriate. For those who donÂ’t know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the earth in an enormous flood. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)