Thomas Dambo stands beside a huge wooden troll in the woods

Discover the Trolls in Detroit Lakes

Join the worldwide troll-hunting phenomenon in Detroit Lakes! By mid-June 2024, discover six giant trolls in Detroit Lakes. The trolls will be installed in the area by international recycling artist Thomas Dambo.

Trolls in DL by Thomas Dambo logo

Thomas Dambo is the world’s leading recycling artist who built more than 130 giant trolls with discarded materials in more than 20 countries on five continents. He uses tons of thrown-away materials to make beautiful things out of trash.

Thomas Dambo states his mission is “Waste No More: our world is drowning in trash, while we are running out of natural resources. I spend my life showing the world that beautiful things can be made out of trash. I give new life to discarded materials by turning them into large-scale artworks.”

A work crew sits at the base of a wooden trool with Thomas Dambo

Thomas Dambo’s parents instilled in his brother and him the value of protecting nature and using recycled materials to make their own toys, costumes and tree houses. Thomas Dambo’s interest in art and music lead him to perform as a rapper, human beatbox, graffiti and street artist. Since 2011 he’s worked full time in art. He lives on a 55 acre farm with his family outside of Copenhagen, which includes a large workshop. Learn more about Thomas Dambo and his troll map and his YouTube channel.

Most of his trolls are hidden in natural sites. Thomas Dambo’s vision is to match beauty with trash, along with a sense of adventure, with necessary research to find his works. He involves volunteers from local communities to work in several stages of his projects. He explains, “The involvement of people is essential in my mission. I can give an example, but it’s the whole world that has to waste no more.”

A Thomas Dambo troll reclining in a wooden chair and pointing

The non-profit based in Detroit Lakes, Project 412, commissioned artist Thomas Dambo to bring his trolls to the Detroit Lakes area. You can learn more background information about the Trolls in DL on the FAQ sheet. The trolls are a permanent installation. Starting mid-June look for the three portals and riddle to follow clues to find the trolls. Make it your mission to discover the trolls in Detroit Lakes!