Vandalism reported at controversial Danish national park

The Danish Nature Agency in North Zealand has filed a police report after repeated acts of vandalism at the newly established Gribskov National Park, DR reports.

Over the past weeks, the park’s fencing—installed to contain grazing animals—has been cut, and gates have been blocked with wooden stakes to prevent closure. Four separate incidents have been documented.

“We are reporting this to the police because it is illegal and because these are repeated actions,” said Søren Bo Oldenburg, forest ranger and head of the local Nature Agency office. He acknowledged a likely connection between the vandalism and longstanding opposition to the park’s perimeter fence, though he stressed no direct evidence exists.

The 1,300-hectare national park, opened earlier this year, currently houses red deer and cattle, with plans to introduce moose later. Authorities warn that damaged fencing risks animals escaping onto nearby roads, posing traffic hazards.

Local resistance to the fence predates the park’s opening, with Gribskov Municipal Council and residents campaigning against it, arguing that nature thrives best without barriers. The Nature Agency now urges the public to report any signs of vandalism and to secure open gates when entering or exiting the area.

“Every day, we must inspect 22 kilometers of fencing with 25 gates for damage,” Oldenburg said. “Combined with threats of vandalism, this strains our resources and creates unsafe conditions for staff.”