Christiania: 40 Years of Occupation

Overview

In 1971, hundreds of young people claimed the 85 acres of an abandoned 17th century military base in Copenhagen and set up a community. Over the next 40 years, they build a self-governed community with the hope of becoming legitimate. Finding it politically unpopular to evict the settlers, the Danish government declared Christiania a "short-term social experiment". Following 40 years of tense relations with the government, much of it focusing on the open hashish trade, Christiania is on its way to becoming a legitimate community. Christiania was born in 1971 when youthful idealism and a severe housing shortage incited hundreds of young people to occupy 85 acres of deserted brick buildings, woods, ramparts and canals as their home.