A DUTCHMAN is building a working replica of Noah's Ark to teach children about the Bible.
Johan Huibers, 47, will stock the vessel with horses, lambs, chickens and rabbits, most of them babies, to save space.
Mr Huibers, who believes in the literal truth of the Bible, plans to set sail from his home in Schagen, 45km north of Amsterdam, in September, stopping off at towns on the Dutch canal system.
Visitors will be invited on board for a small fee which includes a tour and a religious pamphlet.
Mr Huibers needs 100,000 visitors to cover the nearly one million euros ($1.7 million) he spent on the project, raising the money from savings and loans.
He said his wife was not enthusiastic about the Ark. He said: "She told me 'why don't you dig wells in Ethiopia'?"