New troll unveiled: Sculpture appears near Aalborg

It has now been six years since the artist Thomas Dambo created a troll at a secret location on the island of Egholm. Since then, he has built numerous trolls around the world.

Now he is returning to Aalborg Municipality to create another of his characteristic trolls – this time hidden in the forest between Hals and Hou.

A new destination for outings

The new project has just been approved and will become part of Thomas Dambo’s international troll universe.

The troll will be placed at a secret location between the two coastal towns and will serve as both an artwork, an excursion destination, and a sustainable attraction.

According to Jan Nymark Rose Thaysen, councillor for Climate, Culture, and Health in Aalborg Municipality, the project is something special:

“I’m really happy that this has now become a reality. It’s an exciting initiative where Hals and Hou come together to create a unique artwork and a new meeting point,” he says.

Local collaboration at the center

The project has been created through a broad collaboration between local councils in Hals and Hou as well as an association of holiday homeowners.

Volunteers from the local area – the so-called Hals and Hou teams – are already collecting recycled wood, which will be used to build the several-meter-tall troll.

Construction is planned for August, when Thomas Dambo’s team will build the figure together with local participants.

At Hou’s local council, they see great potential in the project:

“A Thomas Dambo troll fits perfectly into our area. It will be a sustainable experience where you go out into nature – and at the same time, it’s fantastic that we help create it ourselves,” says chairperson Tanja Sloth.

A troll with sound

The new troll will not only be a visual experience – it will also include a sound element.

The plan is to integrate a wind chime into the artwork, with local schoolchildren contributing to the process.

At the same time, the project marks the culmination of several years of collaboration between Hals and Hou, says Ulla Larsen:

“We’ve had many secret meetings along the way, and it has brought the towns closer together. The troll will be a strong symbol of that collaboration.”

Adventure in nature

Thomas Dambo’s trolls can already be found all over the world and are known for combining art, recycling, and storytelling in nature.

They are often hidden and must be discovered by curious visitors – and that will also be the case here.

“I build trolls from recycled wood to remind us that what we throw away can be given new life. When a troll hides in nature, it becomes an adventure you can only find by exploring,” says the artist.

This summer, another secret troll will be added to the map – in the scenic area between Hals and Hou, just a 30-minute drive from Aalborg city center.