Copenhagen, Denmark
Hippie town. That is how Christiania is described by many outsiders who have visited. The place is quite fascinating as it was created in 1971 when a group of squatters took control of an old military base in what was then a rundown area in Copenhagen. It was here that the residents of Christiania created a commune with their own set of rules for alternative living. The nine guiding rules created by the first residents include: 1. No Weapons or Firearms, 2. No Hard Drugs, 3. No Violence of Any Kind, 4. No Private Cars, 5. No Stealing or Stolen Goods, 6. No Biker Gang Colors or Clothing, 7. No Bulletproof Clothing, 8. No Sale of Fireworks, and 9. No Use of Explosive Devices. There are also some unwritten rules, including taking no photographs (which has been relaxed over the years, hence the photos with the post), no running (residents might think it is a police raid), free drug use (any hard drugs are completely illegal), and that outsiders are unwelcome (Freetown Christiania is actually Copenhagen’s second most visited location, behind Tivoli Gardens).
As for our visit, it was a different vibe than the rest of Copenhagen. It is noticeable that graffiti is on many of the buildings and structures. Most of Copenhagen is very clean, so graffiti is jarring compared to the rest of the city. Most of the graffiti is designed with a purpose and provides a message either to residents or visitors to Freetown Christiania. It is also noticeable that the people who live and work here have a strong appreciation for true democracy and take part in many community decisions.
Some people do not understand the counter- culture community that is the heart of Freetown Christiania. The slogan for Christiania is “Only dead fish swim with the current,” which encourages citizens to do things differently. However, the community encourages people to swim against the stream so that they will represent the best of what Christiania has to offer.
As for our time in the community, we ate dinner at a Nepalese restaurant, which was one of the best meals I had not just in Denmark, but just about anywhere. We soaked up the evening sun as we enjoyed dinner outside near the infamous Pusher Street, but we did not notice any illicit drug use for which the street is known.
Overall, Freetown Christiania might be misunderstood, but a visit helps a skeptical outsider like me gain a greater appreciation for what the community is trying to accomplish. My visit was surprisingly pleasant, and I strongly believe that any former skeptics like me would benefit from a visit to Freetown Christiania to learn more about what has enabled this community to thrive over the last 50-plus years.
