Recreation area De Schorre in Belgium town Boom is home to seven friendly trolls. They live hidden in the forests of the domain … and are very welcoming to visitors of any age. I had a lot of fun searching for these wooden giants and loved taking pictures with them. If you’re looking for a fun day trip: this troll hunt will surely live up to your expectations!
De Schorre in Boom might be the most magical place in Belgium. Once a year the domain becomes the otherworldly scene for the world-renowned dance festival Tomorrowland. The decors for Tomorrowland are always spellbinding … and since 2019 De Schorre can count on their new inhabitants to maintain this fantastical atmosphere year round.
The creation and the tale of the trolls
The seven trolls that live in De Schorre were created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo at the request of both Tomorrowland and the recreation domain, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the festival. The mythical creatures were constructed with recycled wooden materials. Only the base was built with new wood, to ensure the trolls could live a long life in Boom.
The constructed figures tell the meaningful tale of ‘the seven trolls and the magical tower’. The trolls are ancient creatures who have seen the world evolve into what it is today. On top of that, they can also see the future, making them very wise beings.
When the trolls saw what the ‘little people’ who populate the earth nowadays do, they got scared. The trolls concluded that the ‘little people’ meant well, but that they were too young to know how damaging their actions are to the world they live in. So the trolls decided to build a magical tower (which you can also climb in De Schorre) and to invite the humans on it. From the top, the ‘little people’ could see the future as well and as such the trolls brought wisdom to them.
The trolls
There are six locations (and seven trolls) where you can spot De Schorre’s magical inhabitants. All trolls are between four and eighteen metres high, but despite their size they are not always easy to spot in between the trees.
Una and Joures
This duo isn’t hiding in the forests, like the other trolls. Instead, the best friends are gazing at the clouds from the grass field where the main stage of Tomorrowland stands. Because of their easy-to-find and central location, it can get busy here, even until late in the afternoon. If you do want to have these trolls to yourself, it’s best to come early in the morning when there aren’t many visitors in the park yet. Una and Joures are less easy to admire completely, because they are lying down. It’s best to check them from some distance too, for the best view.
Kamiel and the magical tower
This masked troll sits atop a hill, so you need to do some effort to spot him. But visiting Kamiel is worth the climb! He sits so high for good reason, as he’s guarding the trolls’ magical tower, that is by the way beautifully decorated. Oh, and did you know that Kamiel owns another mask that allows him to speak to the animals in this and other worlds?
Don’t forget to actually climb the magical tower. You probably won’t be able to look into the future, like the story tells, but from here you’ll have a great view over De Schorre and its surroundings. Around Kamiel is a lovely wooden sitting area and in front of him you can read the tale of the trolls.
This is definitely one of the most spectacular locations on the troll hunt, because both Kamiel and the tower are so gorgeously made, but it’s also one of the busier and more popular spots. However, when we returned late in the afternoon, we had the whole area to ourselves. I paid another visit to the trolls early in the morning, which is also a great time for a visit if you want the magical creatures (almost) to yourself.
Arvid
This troll is sitting in the middle of one of the wooden pathways that wind through De Schorre’s troll forest. Arvid likes to create new stuff out of dead trees. He has a little bit of a punk look, with his long, wild hair made of branches and his nose ring that he got from his great great great great great grandmother.
Mikil
Mikil should be admired both from afar and up close. This troll is fetching water from the pond with his bucket. You can spot him most easily from a wooden path on the other side of the lake. This is a truly beautiful sight, especially when the light is right and you can see Mikil’s reflection in the bright blue water. Do make the effort to get a little closer to him too, by descending the rather steep flank of the hill next to the lake.
Hannes
Hannes is sitting on the ruins of an old building, making a necklace. This was the last troll we had to find and we needed a little guidance for this. It’s easy to walk past Hannes, as he’s sitting on the side of the building that is not facing the main walkway. Make sure to keep your eyes open for brick constructions and to check every corner of them.
Little Nora
Many people say she’s the hardest troll to find, but she was actually the first one we came across. She stands along a rather small path that goes in between the trees. The smallest and youngest troll collects magical stones for good luck. And while she might not be as tall as the other ones, she’s really cute and worth searching for if you can’t find her immediately.
Visiting the trolls and De Schorre
Entrance to De Schorre and the troll forest is free. Normally the domain is open every day, unless there are special events going on (like Tomorrowland). There is no indicated route to find all the trolls, so you’ll actually have to go looking for them in the woods. If you do need some help to find one of the creatures, there are many maps you can find online that will indicate the right direction. But don’t use a map right away. The search is at least half the fun of this activity!
The troll hunt in De Schorre is a great trip for both young and old. Do keep in mind that some parts of the forest are not accessible for strollers or wheelchairs, though. Apart from a great quest, the trolls are also really picturesque. So don’t forget to bring your camera!
There are many more things to see and do in De Schorre, next to the trolls. Make sure to also walk over the One World Bridge, that was created by Belgian artist Arne Quinze in honour of Tomorrowland’s tenth birthday. It contains over 200.000 messages from people all over the world.
De Schorre also has a bare foot walk, where you walk over different types of soil on your bare feet. There’s an adventure tower that counts many daunting activities, like a death ride and a via ferrata and there’s a mini golf terrain. Check the website for a full overview of De Schorre’s activities. Some parts of the park might be closed due to coronavirus, though.
I would definitely recommend going on the magical troll hunt in De Schorre. I had lots of fun searching for the creatures, discovering them and taking pictures. They add a different dimension to taking a walk in a forest! And if you cannot get enough of these cute magical beasts, they are spread all over the globe. You can find an overview of the troll projects and a map on the website of artist Thomas Dambo.
Looking for more original activities in Flanders? You could discover Ostend’s steert art with a virtual tour guide or visit ghost town Doel.