Paw Larsen strives to break world record for largest keychain collection in Nykøbing, Denmark

In a garage tucked away behind towering red buildings in Nykøbing, Denmark, Paw Larsen is immersed in his lifelong passion for keychains. His collection has reached an astounding 13,225 keychains over the past 31 years, a number he intends to grow after recently transporting another box home from one of his many thrift store hunts.

“I just have a collecting obsession,” says Larsen, who is now setting his sights on breaking the world record, currently held at 62,257 keychains according to Guinness World Records.

Larsen’s fascination began during a trip to Austria when he was 20. “I found a keychain and thought they were beautiful. Everyone needs something to collect,” he recalls. Today, his extensive collection features a variety of keychains, including figures from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, colorful octopuses, wooden flip-flops, surfboards adorned with dolphins, and baseballs, all as keychains.

In his garage, keychains hang from the floor to the ceiling—some even lined along the ceiling. Despite the impressive volume of his collection, there’s one keychain that Paw dreams of acquiring: a Michael Laudrup keychain from the footballer’s heyday at FC Barcelona.

However, space is becoming a challenge in his otherwise well-equipped garage. As a solution, portions of his growing collection may have to be stored in boxes in the basement, ensuring that his passion continues to expand.