Ask fra Ashøj is one of recycling artist Thomas Dambo's trolls, nestled in a lush, scenic area in Hurup/Thy. Ask is the largest of the trolls in Denmark.
The story behind Ask fra Ashøj
Ask fra Ashøj came to life during "Den Store Troldefolkefest" (The Great Troll Folk Festival), a project that arose due to Covid-19. Thomas Dambo was originally supposed to build 25 trolls around the world, but because of the pandemic, Thomas returned to Denmark, where the project came to fruition with the help of lots of local volunteers from across the country.
Learn more about how he was created in this video by Thomas Dambo:
Relocation in 2022
Ask was built in 2020, but in 2022 it emerged that the troll stood too close to a protected burial mound. Following a ruling by Miljø- og Fødevareklagenævnet stating that no structures—including art—may be erected within a 100-metre radius, the association Ashøje Plantages Venner had to find the resources to move Ask 30 metres.
Nobody knew the burial mound was there, sparking widespread debate about whether spending resources on the move was necessary. However, on 1 November, Ask was moved the 30 metres, ensuring you can still visit him in the plantation.
Find the trolls with our free app
At OpdagDanmark, we've created a free app that guides you to thousands of experiences—such as playgrounds, child-friendly beaches, ice cream parlours, and much more—and of course, all of Thomas Dambo's trolls! We even feature cycling and walking routes that pass by several of the trolls...
Soon, you'll also be able to create folders to track which trolls you've visited and which ones you have left. We are also developing a feature that stamps a troll passport every time you visit a troll...
