The ark, in the town of Schagen, is three stories tall and 225 feet long, the BBC reported Sunday. Complete with life-size model animals, the ark was opened to the public Saturday by Johan Huibers, who built most of the ark himself during the last two years.

Huibers said he started the ark after he had a dream that the Netherlands were being flooded.

The Book of Genesis, in the Bible, says Noah placed seven pairs of most domestic animals and one breeding pair of all other creatures in the boat, which survived a flood delivered by God to punish man.

Visitor Lois Poppema said she believes the Netherlands is the proper place for an ark. "Just a few weeks ago we saw Al Gore on television ... saying that all Holland will be flooded," Poppema said, referencing Gore, the former U.S. vice president and environmental activist crusading against global warming.