Copenhagen’s misunderstood, precarious self-governing paradise

Christiania in Copenhagen is unique among the Western world’s neighborhoods. It’s also *highly mischaracterized* by most who have written about, heard about or even visited the place.

My amazing friend and host, Tamey, is enjoying a vegetarian meal at Morgenstedet, one of Christiania’s many charming little restaurants and shops. Everyone loves Tamey; he typifies the spirit and gentle soul of Christiania.

In fact, few visitors even bother to go into the heart of the neighborhood, which is a verdant, peaceful oasis that makes ALL other urban neighborhoods on Earth feel like the concrete- and car-dominated places that they are.

Christiania’s visitors sorely miss out by not venturing far beyond Pusher Street. I’ve visited all five districts three times each. I deeply miss Christiania’s lack of cars, concrete and fences.

The place is also known as Freetown Christiania, Freetown and “the town” (the last moniker referred to only by locals). Its “ia” suffix is a reminder that such a community existed long before “Portlandia” became a semi-household name.

Its population rarely straying far from 900, Christiania was established in 1971 when artists and squatters (along with families looking for affordable housing and a playground for their children) took over an 84-acre vacant military base and proclaimed their own independent nation on land coveted by no one at the time.

Christiania’s entrance gate

A funny numerical coincidence never reported until now
My lifelong passion for both math and maps (detailed in my painfully honest “About Me” page) led me over the years to find trivial facts and coincidences that probably no one else knows or even finds interesting. 🙂 One such fact is that Christiania’s entrance gate (which proudly proclaims, “You are now leaving the European Union”) is 1.11 kilometers from Europe’s most famous pedestrian-only shopping street, Stroget, whose length is, coincidentally, 1.11 kilometers.

While this incredibly trivial stat is meant only for humor, it’s a clear indication of Christiania’s highly desirable location. The last section of this post is, in fact, devoted to the gentrification pressures that threaten Christiania’s very existence. The community is literally at the bullseye of Copenhagen’s resurgence of industrial properties.

Common assumptions about Christiania, all of which are false

Near-universal assumptions held by almost anyone who’s heard of Christiania are that:

  • Photos are not allowed
  • Drugs are legal
  • You can buy any type of drug you’d like to here
  • Hard drugs are sold
  • Outsiders are encouraged to buy and sell drugs on Pusher Street
  • There’s no system of government or laws (after all, it’s called “Freetown”)
  • The housing is essentially disheveled, sloppy campsites
  • No one has any regard to his or her impact on neighbors
  • The residential areas are dangerous or uninviting
  • There’s nothing to do in Christiania other than deal drugs

It turns out that ALL of these widely held beliefs are patently false. In fact, the truth often turns out to be the exact opposite.

I’ll group the misconceptions by category: photos, drugs, laws and the community.

This is the commercial core of Christiania. You won’t see any signs of hard drug usage; it’s the most peaceful neighborhood I’ve ever visited. Dozens of additional fascinating shops can be found throughout the 84-acre community.

The famous “No Photo” signs about which you always read and hear

Photos have *always* been allowed everywhere outside of “Pusher Street,” which is the infamous “drug zone” that occupies just 1% of Christiania. That’s why this post is full of pictures of Christiania!

In fact, photos are now allowed even on Pusher Street.The once ubiquitous “No Photos” signs on Pusher Street are now painted over. I have no photos of Pusher Street, as it was strictly forbidden when I visited in 2015.

I personally found Pusher Street to be incredibly boring, so I was never interested in taking pictures of a bunch of ramshackle booths with black curtains concealing whatever took place inside.

I honored the rule forbidding photos of Pusher Street. This photo, taken just above Pusher Street in an earthen amphitheater, is legal. Crowds gather almost daily to enjoy concerts and other events throughout the summer.

Regarding the incessant claims about drug use

The drug situation couldn’t possibly be more misunderstood. Marijuana is not legal anywhere in Denmark—not even in Christiania or on Pusher Street itself. It’s true that drugs have been bought, sold and traded on Pusher Street (near Christiania’s entrance gate) for decades, but the police have largely turned a blind eye to the practice.

However, hard drugs (cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, etc) are expressly forbidden in Christiania. Hash and weed have generally been the extent of what’s been sold on Pusher Street.

Just outside Pusher Street (the “Green Light District” marked by the “No Photo” sign at the far left; this photo IS legal) are activities and shops that are infinitely more interesting than whatever takes place on Pusher Street. Notice all the Christiania flag symbols (three yellow dots over a red background).

Christiania’s residents have, in fact, grown increasingly intolerant of the activities on Pusher Street (again contradicting the usual assumptions). This reached a boiling point following the shooting of a police officer in 2016. Police shootings in Denmark are extremely rare; the last officer killed by a criminal in Denmark was in 1995. So, this incident was widely publicized throughout the country.

Nearly all the buildings from the old army barracks were saved and converted into artists’ studios, extremely affordable housing, event spaces and shops. This is just outside of Pusher Street. No police officers were seen, and cars are *never* encountered within Christiana’s borders. Den grå hal (‘The grey hall’), formerly a riding house with a unique Bohlendach roof construction, is now Christiania’s largest concert venue

Christiania residents held a communal meeting and decided to tear down the stalls on Pusher Street, which they did the very next day: September 2, 2016. Residents also successfully urged visitors to *not* purchase cannabis in Christiania. Severely limiting outsiders’ drug money also keeps out the corporate influence, which had been steadily increasing.


A near-perfect democracy–totally counter to lawlessness

This brings up the extreme misconception about the “lawless” nature of Christiania. Once again, nothing could be further from the truth.

I’m about to enter the nearest residential area of this “lawless” community. As you can see, I’m terrified. 🙂

In fact, at the very outset, Christiania’s residents developed their own rules, including “Christiania’s Common Law,” which is posted on several signs as you walk through the community.

Common Law strictly forbids:

  • Weapons
  • Hard drugs
  • Violence of any kind
  • Private cars (again, within Christiania’s borders)
  • Biker gang colors/clothing
  • Bulletproof clothing
  • Sale of fireworks
  • Use of any explosive devices
  • Stealing and stolen goods

The signs are posted in Danish and English, and pictures help make the laws very clear to people in any language.

Now that peace has been fully established by the nine laws, it seems like the only rule left is: RELAX and HAVE FUN!

Christiania even has an official flag. A little-known fact is that the yellow dots represent those of the three i’s in Christiania. Naturally, the community also has its own currency (although Danish currency is accepted).

Christiania’s official flag. Credit: Liftarn/Creative Commons/Via commons.wikimedia.org

Christiania is governed by consensus democracy, independent of Denmark. So, all major decisions are made only after commonly agreed upon by all residents. Many different forums are offered for residents to be involved in decisions.

Wherever two roads meet, whether paved or not, a giant, beautiful mural is certain to appear.

The biggest annual meeting is the Common Meeting, where all Christiania residents gather to discuss a variety of issues. Budget negotiations and major disputes are resolved at this meeting. Democracy continues to evolve in Christiania, but among the constants are residents’ continued efforts to protect their basic values.

Amazingly, you can even win if you’re not in the majority. This is because a minority can veto a decision reached by majority consensus. Then, the majority works to find a solution that’s acceptable to the minority.

This scene typifies Christiania so beautifully

Christiania’s lovely countercultural community

While there are strict laws meant to literally keep the peace, Christiania maintains a very counterculture vibe. After all, the local slogan is “Kun døde fisk flyder med strømmen,” (“Only dead fish swim with the current”).

This is perfectly normal in Christiania. When did we forget that climbing in trees and simply hanging out is fun?!?

Experimenting has also been encouraged since squatters first arrived. Resident and archivist Ole Lykke moved to Christiania in 1979. As he told The Guardian in September 2016, “You’d have a good idea, you’d go ahead with it, and if somebody complained, you’d deal with it. If not, then you’d just go ahead.”

Residents call this “the castle.” There’s a trail with stairs built into the short but steep trail directly behind the house. I walked the trail at least three times. Everyone is welcome to walk everywhere in Christiania.
This glass house was made from recycled windows. Again, neighbors don’t mind, and they are incredibly courteous toward each other.
Credit: seier+seier/CreativeCommons via Wikipedia

While Christiania is governed autonomously, it is clearly within the city of Copenhagen; it lies within the exceedingly sought-after and extremely close-in neighborhood of Christianhavn (which translates to “Christian’s Harbor”). The community is connected to the municipal water and energy grid, but residents employ (and constantly experiment with) some of the most innovative systems in what is already a highly environmentally conscious city.

The origin of “Christian” in these names
“Christian” refers to Christianhavn’s founder, King Christian IV, a Copenhagen native and the longest running monarch in Danish history (1588-1648). Christianhavn is the small fortified merchant town (now an inner borough) he founded.

Even the most densely populated parts of Christiania have a delightfully overgrown, narrow, communal and eminently walkable feel, almost like the rapidly disappearing Hutong villages in Beijing.

Residents have long rejected the concept of individual ownership. One beautiful result is that the few cars privately owned must be kept outside of Christiania’s borders.

Instead of garages, private cars and white picket fences, homes in Christiania are surrounded by bicycles. Some folks even hang their laundry to dry, which is a clear violation in many American covenant-controlled communities. Some homes are even occupied by over five non-related adults–the horror! 🙂

A total lack of property ownership presented major challenges, most notably a decades-long struggle with the Danish government. Finally, in 2012, government offered to sell the 84-acre property to residents at a deep discount. It was accepted, and residents finally turned from squatters into land owners. However, the community was forced to change its law regarding property ownership, which many residents greatly opposed.

Paths always follow natural human “desire lines” through Christiania, where the land is owned by a community collective.

They realized, however, that had this purchase not been made, the federal government would have made such significant changes in major infrastructure that the community would eventually be indistinguishable from other Danish neighborhoods. Not only was Christiania saved, but the deal was made under the creative stipulation that “individuals would not actually control the land; the ‘collective’ would.” A foundation was set up to buy the land, and residents pay a “mortgage” of sorts that rises slightly each year.

When you’re not spending 60 hours each week trying to pay living expenses, you can create a whole lot more art! 🙂

Christiania also officially became part of Copenhagen at this time, but the municipal government has allowed residents to continue living undisturbed by the rest of the city.

Surprises await every turn when you wander the lush, quiet trails laced throughout Christiania. This tiny home, cleverly resembling Christiania’s flag right down to the yellow dots, contains a reference to the “Free Republic of Uzupis” (a neighborhood within Lithuania’s capital city, Vilnius).

Like Christiania, Uzupis is an independent republic within a large European capital city. It’s the European neighborhood most often compared to Christiania. Its atmosphere is quite bohemian and artsy, although, unlike Christiania, it still resembles a typical dense European neighborhood far more than Christiania ever will.


Exploring the community

Anyone who fails to venture past Pusher Street and actually explore Christiania itself is missing literally ALL of what makes Christiania one of the most special, loving, inclusive neighborhoods on Earth!

“Community gardens” are unnecessary and thus nonexistent in Christiania, where gardens are found everywhere, and everything belongs to the community.

First of all, it’s the most walkable neighborhood I’ve ever seen. Not only can you walk literally anywhere you’d like in Christiania, but you’ll never have to worry about encountering a car. The few private cars owned by residents are kept outside of Christiania’s borders. In fact, the “crate bike” was launched here in the 1980s. Featuring a spacious crate in the front and seen on all well-worn trails in the community, it’s now known as the “Christiania bike.”

The “Christiania bike” is seen throughout the community. It’s great (and quite fun) for hauling cargo, including human!

At one point as I wandered through some thick brush on one of the many beautiful trails crisscrossing throughout the community, I came into a sudden clearing and nearly ran into an older man who was happily sitting on his property, surrounded by lush vegetation. He settled in Christiania in 1977 and never left. We had a wonderful talk, and I couldn’t help noticing that his esteemed look and conduct would fit just as naturally in the philosophy department at Oxford as it would in Christiania.

Despite Christiania’s extremely central location within Christianhavn, much of the community feels like the Shire. And no fences exist because property lines don’t really exist. I had a long talk with the wonderful owner of this house; he moved here in 1977.

I found Christiania to be an enormously successful social experiment. I greatly enjoyed seeing and talking to everyone I encountered in its lush setting, where property lines and fences are either invisible or nonexistent.

Typical peaceful, colorful walk through a neighborhood unlike any other on this planet.

Christiania likely has the modern world’s closest approximation to a peaceful anarchist community: it rejects perhaps the three most important things anarchists reject: hierarchy, property ownership and central rule. In Christiania, you are in control of your own life, as long as you follow a few very basic rules meant largely to keep peace.

There’s a beautiful elevated loop trail that surrounds Christiania and drops down both to canals and a lake, the latter of which contains a real beach and a great adult-sized playground.

All the residents I met embodied the spirit of expressing yourself freely, being responsible to the community, and living harmoniously with each other and with nature.

Even the cats are content, totally safe and unafraid. And yes, I walked right up to pet this cat without fearing an admonition to “get off the lawn.”

It’s rare that there’s a vacancy in Christiania. But when it happens, outsiders apply, at an area meeting, to become residents. The community then chooses someone who would be an asset or fill a need. In the early years, builders were in demand, for example.

Kids of all ages play in the pocket parks found throughout Christiania. This one borders the lakeside beach. Rope-balancing outside while carrying a drink doesn’t violate any of Christiania’s nine laws.

Christiania’s greatest threats: money, drugs and gentrification

Not all is peace and carefree living, of course. Outside money is a serious, ever-increasing threat to Christiania’s very existence, and there’s a dual threat of drug trading and gentrification. The big-money illicit drug trading may be under control for the moment, but there has always been an ebb and flow.

Residents recently took the very unusual recent step of allowing police to install video surveillance equipment. And, again, visitors are strongly urged *not* to buy drugs within the community, because the cannabis market funds organized crime once it gets sufficiently large. Residents are even considering additional laws regarding cannabis itself, which would be a highly unusual step.

This is, at least for now, a very quiet, extremely inexpensive area toward the far back side of Christiania. But world-class restaurants and high-end shops are only 5 minutes away by bicycle.

Christiania’s other major existential threat is that its incredibly cheap “rent” (mortgage payments to the foundation), extremely artsy feel and convenient location makes the community a prime candidate for gentrification. In fact, Christiania’s once backwater location could not be more attractive than it is today.

There are currently *seven* bicycle bridges within and bordering Christiania

Fully *five* new bike/ped bridges were built within a *quarter mile* of Christiania’s borders in 2015 alone. Two more such bridges were completed in 2016, and yet another bicycle bridge will be built within half a mile of Christiania by 2018. This alone creates almost insurmountable gentrification pressure on any neighborhood.

Postcard-perfect Nyhavn (“New Harbor”) is now reachable from Christiania by bicycle in 5 minutes, thanks to the new Kissing Bridge.

But the pressure of big money intensified most of all when the years-delayed “Kissing Bridge” finally opened in July 2016. The bridge is very short (600 feet long), but it completes a critical missing piece in Copenhagen’s cycling network. Technically called the Inner Harbour Bridge, it provides by far the fastest connection between Christiania and Nyhavn (“New Harbor”), the most colorful and famous place for tourists to congregate in all of Scandinavia.

It’s tough to squeeze another person into Nyhavn on summer evenings.

The Kissing Bridge also links Copenhagen’s most famous post card scene with the two formerly industrial islands whose value has skyrocketed faster than anywhere else in Denmark—and both islands are within a five-minute walk of Christiania.

Another view of Nyhavn, from which Christiania was fairly cut off until July 2016.

One of the islands is Papirøen (Paper Island), a former paper factory that has now become an “industrial chic” (translation: upscale) food market, art gallery and design offices. High-end development has overtaken every square inch of developable space.

Paper Island is now home to a popular science museum, a huge indoor food market, great new trails, and much more. It’s also directly across from the relatively new waterside Copenhagen Opera House.
Even on a cloudy, cool summer day, Paper Island’s outdoor seating areas attract more than a few diners.

Directly across from Paper Island (and also served by the Kissing Bridge) is another small island that was (until 2016) home to Noma, which was named the world’s best restaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. The land is now some of Denmark’s most valuable, and the many sparkling new bicycle connections to Christiania, Nyhavn, Paper Island and other popular destinations are putting Christiania on an increasingly well-worn tourist trail.

Noma, named the world’s best restaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, was a literal stone’s throw outside of Christiania.

It wasn’t that long ago that Christiania was very much isolated from Copenhagen’s core; the islands separating the community from downtown were dominated by the ship-building factory that closed in 1986. But today more people visit Christiania than any other attraction in Copenhagen, save Tivoli Gardens. That’s right: more people visit Christiania than the Little Mermaid or Scandinavia’s busiest shopping street.

Tourist traffic is increasing, but people mainly confine themselves to areas closest to Christiania’s entrance gate.

It would be an unbelievable tragedy to lose the Christiania I’ve seen and adore beyond words. I hope that the community can continue to operate indefinitely in a manner similar to how it has since 1971.


Bonus sections! 🙂

It feels sad and wrong to end my post about this wondrous community on such a dire note.  So, I added two more sections. Plus, it’s a great excuse to include even more pictures. 🙂

I’ll start with a question:
What do ALL of the following places have in common?

  • Venice
  • The historic centers of nearly every European city
  • Mackinac Island
  • London’s Trafalgar Square
  • Rue Royal (after noon) and Jackson Square in New Orleans
  • The endless fascinating corridors of Seattle’s Pike Place Market
  • 16th St Mall – the only street visited by 100% of Denver’s tourists
  • Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square
  • Every piazza on Earth
  • Turkey’s Grand Bazaar
  • Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market
  • Other world-famous markets found in Morocco, Egypt, etc.
  • All national parks
  • Vancouver’s Seawall, the world’s longest downtown loop trail
  • Large parts of most college campuses
  • The impossibly beautiful “main street” canals of Giethoorn
  • Famous trails such as El Camino de Santiago
  • And finally–literally ALL of Christiania

You’ve obviously guessed it by now. In fact, the *only* trait shared by ALL great places on Earth is that they are car-free. They might differ dramatically in architectural age and style, high or low density, etc. But the one thing that all great *urban* areas have in common is that they are full of PEOPLE rather than cars.

This is how the “parking lots” of every restaurant and business look in Christiania. There are over 50 fascinating little shops and restaurants in the community.
Every shop in Christiania is quaint, colorful, and 100% operated by residents. This was the most “touristy” shop I found. Try to imagine your neighborhood’s shops not constantly surrounded by parked and moving cars.
Nature is literally integrated into most homes in Christiania. Notice the disconnected downspouts.
I love all the colorful, whimsical signs (and people!) in Christiania.
Support Christiania sign
Not a single tourist arrives to Christiania by car. I don’t even think it’s possible.
I could wander for hours through the peaceful community. In fact, I did do just that–on three separate visits.
I love that the sign below the cow says: “NOT private. Have a look!” Nothing could be more classic Christiania.
Nature trails wind their ways throughout Christiania. The lake is just to the right of this picture. I’d have more pictures of the lake, but it was so cloudy each time that the lake and the sky were nearly indistinguishable in each picture. 🙂

Christiania’s dramatic backdrop: Church of Our Savior

And finally…It’s almost impossible to write such a thorough post about Christiania without mentioning (and showing dramatic pictures of) the giant historic church that is a constant beautiful backdrop to the community.

During the one brief stretch of clear skies I experienced in Copenhagen, I biked as quickly as I could to the church and raced up the stairs to the 300-foot-high giant gold ball at the top.

They looked like scary, exposed and exciting stairs to climb–and they absolutely were!!

Church of Our Savior, completed in 1695, is Christiania’s literal backdrop.
Of the exactly 400 steps required to reach the ball at the very top, the final 150 steps are outside. Yes, it’s as terrifying and brutally exposed (and incredibly fun!!) as it looks!
The outside steps wind fully around the church three times. They’re almost certainly the most narrow steps I’ve ever climbed. Note: if the preview is sideways, the full-sized version should be oriented correctly.
This is the most scenic of all the views from near the top of the 300-foot-tall church. Frederik’s Church (which took 150 years to complete and contains by far the largest dome in Copenhagen) dominates the view.
The steps are barely wider than my trusty Oregon Ducks hat is long. These are the last few steps below the giant gold ball, and they couldn’t possibly be more exposed.
Another, more close-up view of the longest, most beautiful and dramatic outdoor spiral stairway I’ve ever seen.
Again: click on the image to get the larger version in case the preview version is sideways.
I spent most of the climb up and down the 400 steps with a family from Oregon! 🙂
Classic view of Church of Our Savior from the urban core of Christianhavn
This is the best shot I could get looking up from the base of the church. It’s surprisingly difficult to capture the entire church close-up, no matter where on its grounds you stand.

6 thoughts on “Copenhagen’s misunderstood, precarious self-governing paradise”

  1. Tim,
    This is absolutely fabulous. What a wonderful place to visit…and I feel as if I’ve already been there after reading your post. Thank you for a very nice excursion.
    Jane

    1. Thank you so much, Jane; I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! There is certainly no other place like Christiania! It’s important not just to Copenhagen or Denmark but to the entire world.

      Christiania is a real-world example of a community that shows tremendous tolerance while not shying away from confronting – and peacefully reaching consensus on – its greatest internal and external challenges.

  2. Tim, thanks for the post. I’m going to Copenhagen in May and Christiania is on the short list of places to visit. Your pics are wonderful! Glad to know photos are’t forbidden.

    1. That’s wonderful, Robyn! You’ll have a great time there! And it would be interesting to know what the latest is regarding Pusher Street, etc. The community continues to evolve. I just hope that Christiania won’t be consumed by the rapid infusion of money surrounding it. It’s an *incredibly* special and obviously totally unique place!

  3. What an interesting story and beautiful place!
    However, those steps on the church are downright
    frightening! What you will go through for the perfect
    photo!

    1. LOL! Yeah, the things we must do! 🙂 But it was REALLY fun climbing the stairs wrapping three times around the outside of the church! The last few steps (the hat-width ones) were a little terrifying, but I knew that I’d later regret not making it those last few steps! 🙂

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