Inspired by reading the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark to his children in 1993, Dutch carpenter Johan Huibers felt a deep calling to bring the ancient vessel to life. Despite his wife’s initial skepticism—she joked they might as well go on a vacation to the moon—Huibers pursued the project with determination. In 2006, he completed a smaller version of the ark, which served as a stepping stone toward his more ambitious second project. This larger ark took four years to build and involved a team of eight workers.

Unveiled in 2013, Huibers’ second ark is a remarkable engineering feat, stretching 124 meters (407 feet) long and 22 meters (72 feet) high, weighing 2,500 tons, and costing an estimated $1.5 million. While Noah’s original ark was said to be made from gopher wood, Huibers used American Cedar and Pine, requiring the equivalent of 12,000 trees. The massive structure rests on a hidden floating platform made from repurposed steel cargo barges, allowing it to function as a real vessel on inland waterways.

The ark is more than just a colossal wooden structure; it serves as a living Biblical museum. Huibers filled it with life-size wooden animals to recreate the story and provide visitors—especially children—with a tangible experience of the ancient account. His goal was to educate and inspire, showing the scale of the story and highlighting the truth of the Biblical narrative. In an era of climate change and rising sea levels, the ark also serves as a symbolic reminder of the world’s fragility and constant transformation.

Since its completion, Johan’s Ark has traveled widely across Europe, visiting the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Britain, proving its seaworthiness as a functional barge. Huibers has long dreamed of bringing the ark to Israel, the land associated with the Biblical story. However, because the vessel lacks motors or sails, this journey would require at least $1.3 million in donations to hire tugboats capable of moving the giant barge across the seas.

Although the ark is currently closed to the public due to safety regulation disputes with the local council, Huibers’ achievement remains a stunning testament to his faith and dedication. His ultimate goal was to demonstrate God’s existence and provide people with a tangible, awe-inspiring connection to one of the Bible’s most iconic stories. Despite the obstacles, he continues to hope that one day he will fulfill his dream of bringing “God’s ship” to “God’s land.”