Getting Creative in Netherlands
Netherlands is no slouch when it comes to being progressive and liberal. After all, Copenhagen just finished hosting the UN Climate Change Conference (COP15), and Amsterdam is famed for it’s coffee houses where you can smoke pot and the Red Light District where prostitutes advertise themselves in storefront window displays.

Johan's Ark
So it is a bit of a contrast to also find a major creationist attraction like the Biblical (Bijbels) Museum in Amsterdam competing for attention with the Museum of Sex. Even more surprising to find a giant scaled replica of Noah’s Ark navigating canals like a traveling zoo.
Biblical Museum – Located in two historic buildings from 1662 on the Herengracht canal in Amsterdam, the Biblical Museum explains how the Bible has influenced Dutch culture, and brings the stories in the Bible to life using artefacts from ancient Egypt, centuries-old models of the temple of Solomon and Herod, and religious objects from the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Theres a 19th-century model of the Tabernacle, and a model of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem which explains the significance of this sacred place in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Visitor info
Johan’s Ark - After dreaming about Netherlands getting flooded, Dutch creationist Johan Huibers started building a replica of Noah’s Ark in 2005. He wanted to it to be of the exact same size, but because he wanted it to be able to navigate the canals, the size of the Ark was halved.
So now you have Johan’s Ark, 150 cubits in length and 3 storeys tall, containing lifesize giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras and bison. There’s also a 50-seat theater inside the Ark. Since it’s opening in Schagen in April 2007, the Ark has traveled to 11 cities, attracting 430,000 visitors.
Johan’s Ark is now berthed in Harderwijk, where it stays through the New Year and until Jan 30, 2010. Visitor info
Photo by Ceinturion
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