Freetown Christiania: Copenhagen’s Hippie Civilization
Imagine the opportunity to build your own self-governing city within the walls of a bustling Western European establishment. Your outpost creates a haven for progressive movements and creativity, freedom of taxes, and a place to openly enjoy your recreational drug of choice. Your free to basically do as you please, less the consequences of your actions from your own community.
The city I just described exists. Freetown Christiania, located inside Copenhagen, Denmark, houses about 850 prideful residents inside of an area of around 85 acres. The city is governed by special law which allows them to carry their own flag, engage in drug trade, and avoid the responsibilities of a tax paying citizen, a true hippie paradise!
Christiania is a very popular tourist attraction for visitors to Copenhagen. The people are carefree and the roads are car free. (Seriously, the only vehicles allowed are snowplows and horses). I visited Freetown Christiania on a cold, snowy late February afternoon.
I walked into a community that truly cares about its people. Some neighbors huddled around the barrels of fire for warmth, while others worked throughout the day to repair leaky roofs or clear snow from yards. I do remember the locals yelling at us for borrowing their fire. They are a group of people that sincerely has everyone’s back.
There always seemed to be a consistent stream of people comming and going throughout the day, most likely to score a quick high. I spent about an hour inside Christiania with an Australian friend of mine. He knew exactly which dealers to buy the good marijuana from. I, however, was more interested in exploring the way of life for the people in Amsterdam-lite.
Pictures and video are forbidden or else I would have had a day at the fair documenting my experience. (Trust me, these aren’t the type of people you want to mess with!) The farther you explore Freetown Christiania the more remote the village becomes. I did fire off one shot of some of the unique housing inside the city.
I’m sure you can find better videos on YouTube from braver souls than me.
Freetown Christiania is one magnificent city I enjoyed investigating. Art is everywhere! Many of the walls are painted like Berlin’s East Side Gallery. I thank Christiania for welcoming us into your home and sustaining a rule of law that truly benefits the people living there.
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