X-Message-Number: 5113
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 17:01:15 -0500 (EST)
From: Robin Helweg-Larsen <>
Subject: Free State Christiania

David Stodolsky wrote:
> I would characterize people's attitude toward government in Denmark
> as "healthy disrespect". A democratic system can be more or less anarchistic,
> and Denmark is currently at the anarchistic extreme. There is even
> a "Free City" within Copenhagen, where taxes are not collected. A
> recent academic study of the administration of this "Free City", gave it
> high marks, as compared to the ponderous Copenhagen Municipal bureaucracy.

This should be of great interest to Libertarians; do any of you know 
about it?  My information isn't up to date, but here's what I remember:

In the early 70s a bunch of hippies, anarchists, social activists etc 
realized that a disused army base close to the center of Copenhagen, 
several city blocks in area and full of three-story buildings, would make 
a wonderful hangout, so they squatted it.  They had free water and 
electricity, free housing, and freedom from civilian authorities.  Drugs 
were sold openly as the police and municipality had no jurisdiction.  
Runaways from around northern Europe used it as a safe haven.  There was 
a pub, a bakery, a post office, etc.  Some of the apartments made from 
the subdivided barracks were very tasteful and full of antiques etc; some 
were rat-holes.  There was a lot of dog shit in the streets.

The army said it was a municipal problem; the municipality said the 
military was responsible; the national government didn't want to get 
involved; the police realized that at least they knew where all the 
pushers and troublemakers were, instead of being scattered.

Whether Christiania was, or is, or could be, self-supporting (with or 
without trafficking) I don't know.  Certainly a lot of money came from 
the state (welfare, unemployment, etc) as well as having free utilities, 
and cash also came in from legal (prostitution) and illegal (drugs) 
services and commodities.

It was an interesting place to visit, but I never wanted to live there.  

Maybe David can correct and update this!

Robin HL


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