Hunting trolls in the deep, Danish forests

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This summer I have discovered how fun it is to go troll hunting in the Danish forests. The giant trolls made from recycled materials has become known worldwide. The artist is the Danish sculptureThomas Dambo, who is internationally recognized for creating giant sculptures. Dambo's trolls have become so popular that they are no longer found only in Denmark; you can find them in other countries across Europe, as well as in the USA, Australia, Asia and elsewhere. Also, his trolls have broken visitor records worldwide and have been featured by, Lonely Planet, National Geographic and the BBC.

I had never known much about Dambo or his trolls before now. One of my sisters is an eager trollhunter who made me realize that this is art that might be worth checking out. Reaching the locations where the trolls are situated requires some effort; we had to both walk and cycle a fair distance. So, you have to be prepared for a bit of physical exertion. But then again, that is precisely the point! In this post I will introduce you to the first two trolls I have seen so far.

This troll was the fist that my sister brougt me to see. It is located in Aalborg. The name is «Tusentunge» who is troll nr. 66. Dambo's plan was to create a troll in Tokyo in 2020, but because of Covid-19 he had to put that plan on hold. Instead he placed this troll on Egholm. You can see that it has been exposed to the elements for a number of years. Compared to the latest one he has created, you can also see that Dambo has evolved. Egholm is a small island, so we had to take a short ferryride to get there.

The second troll is «Susi Vind Ding». The two ttroll hunters are making their way deep into the forest. We must keep our eyes and ears open. The troll map Dambo created shows only the approximate locations of his trolls; we will have to search a bit to find them. In this case we were not the only hunters in the forest on this sunday in September. Many had taken the walk to find her. Compared to the people watching, Susi Vind Ding is certainly a giant! She sits in the middle of a wind chime, listening. The chime produces sound when the wind causes the metal pieces to sway and strike against one another. She is located outside Aalborg and at the east coast of Denmark.

The plate tells us that her name is Susi Vind Ding and is troll number 189. She was placed her during the summer month of 2026, which might make her the latest of Dambo's trolls. There is a text which I have tried to translate as acurate as possible.

«In a forest just south of Hou lives Susi Vind Ding; every night, she goes out on the prowl, gathering a thousand things. Old bottles, cans, and shards of glass do not belong on the forest floor—she collects them and hangs them up for all to see, confronting those who think they can simply turn a blind eye. For she gives a voice to the forest’s branches—Susi’s wind chimes ring, chime, and rattle, sounding a warning: clean up after yourself, and remember to take away the trash others have left behind».

We walk around the sculpture and study it. I am truly impressed! People come and go, and we are never completely alone here. Nor do we hear any sound from the wind chimes, Since we were in a forest of tall trees, the wind couldn't make the wind chime sound. To get it to make a sound, I had my sister walk ahead of me and set hanging items in motion. I walked behind her and filmed Susi. Check the film at the end of the post. But make sure you have sound when you watch.

Dambo’s aim is to get people out into nature and to highlight the importance of protecting Mother Nature. Through his trolls, he has created a concept that serves as a tribute to nature, using recycled and repurposed materials. He builds his trolls in secluded, little-known spots, and they aren't always easy to find. Even on his troll map, their locations aren't marked with pinpoint accuracy. After all, the whole point is for us to go out and search for them ourselves.

I must admid it was worth the effort to go both places. Dambo has not created any trolls in Norway. Not yet, but he has a plan doing so. I will definitely be following his work.