Freetown Christiania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Freetown Christiania Fristaden Christiania
Flag
Anthem: I kan ikke slå os ihjel You cannot kill us
Location	Copenhagen, Denmark
Official languages	Danish
Government	Anarchist commune and partially autonomous intentional community
Establishment
• Declared	1971
Area
• Total	0.07 km2 (0.027 sq mi)
Membership	~1,000
Currency	Danish Krone (de facto), Løn (de jure)
Time zone	UTC+1

Entrance to Christiania

Freetown Christiania, commonly just called Christiania, is a Danish special community. The village is partially self-governing with 850 inhabitants, and has an area of 85 acres near the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen. The Freetown has often been in the centre of controversies since its creation in an empty military area in 1971. Inhabitants of Christiania are called "Christianites". Christiania has become home to several businesses such as carpenters, blacksmiths, a bikeshop, as well as several cafés, restaurants, jazz, blues and night clubs.

Area protection

In 2007, the National Heritage Agency proposed protection status for some of military buildings, now in Christiania. These are:

• Den grå hal ('The grey hall')
• Den grønne hal ('The green hall'), originally a smaller riding house
• Mælkebøtten ('The dandelion')
• The Commander's house
• The 17th and 18th century powder magazines on the bastions.

Born of Christiania

After the military had left, the area was only guarded by a few watchmen and sometimes of homeless people went in the area for sleep or for living there. On 4 September, 1971, neighbours of the area broke down a wall to make a place where their children could play. On 26 September, 1971, Christiania was opend to people by Jacob Ludvigsen, a well-known provo and journalist who published a magazine called Hovedbladet ('The main paper'). The spirit of Christiania quickly developed into one of the hippie movement, the squatter movement, collectivism and anarchism, in contrast to the site's previous military use.

The Community

Meditation and yoga have always been popular activities for the Christianites, and for many years Christiania had their own internationally acclaimed theater group Solvognen, who, beyond their theater performances, also staged many happenings in Copenhagen and even throughout Sweden. The people in Christiania have developed their rules, without the Danish government. Since 1994, residents have paid taxes and fees for water, electricity, trash disposal, etc. The future of the area remains in doubt. In the street photos are forbidden.

Cars in the Freetown

In Christiania cars are prohibited. However, 132 cars are owned by residents and need to be parked on the streets near the Freetown. In 2005, a parking space for only 14 cars outside the Freetown was created. In 2001 a few residents in one of Christiania's sections proposed to construct a parking lot for their cars which was rejected by other Christiania residents.

Governmental measures

In January 2006, the government proposed that Christiania would be turned into a mixed alternative community and residential area adding condominiums for 400 new residents. Current residents, now paying DKK 1450 (USD 250) per month, would be allowed to remain but need to begin paying normal rent for the facilities. Christiania has rejected this, fearing the Freetown would turn into a normal Copenhagen neighborhood. In particular, the concept of privately owned dwellings is claimed to be incompatible with Christiania's collective ownership.

Architectural competition

In order to present a reasonable use of area after an eventual "cleaning", the Danish government commissioned an architectural competition. 17 proposals were received, of which only eight have met the formal competition requirements. All of the proposals were rejected by ojudges. The cost of the architectural competition was 850,000 Danish Kroner (113,000 Euro, 145,000 USD).

Related pages

• Squatting
• Ungdomshuset

Images for kids

• 

  Entrance

• 

  Glass house in Freetown Christiania, one of the many idiosyncratic constructions exemplifying modern "architecture without architects".

• 

  Pusher Street in 2007, after eviction of the hash stands. A 'no photo sign' remains.

See also

In Spanish: Ciudad Libre de Christiania para niños