Christiania: From Hippie Colony to Alternative Community

Christiania, known as the “Free Town,” has evolved from a hippie colony into a permanent home for approximately 1,000 residents. Since the 1970s, it has served as an alternative village community nestled in the heart of Copenhagen.

Christiania spans 32 hectares in the northern part of Christianshavn, occupying nearly half of Christianshavn Vold (The Rampart of Christianshavn), which are remnants of Copenhagen’s historic fortifications. The Free Town stretches from an urban area with cobblestone streets and former military buildings to a rural, scenic rampart landscape.

A Social Experiment in the Making

Christiania began when a group of young residents from Christianshavn broke through the fence of the abandoned Bådsmandsstræde Barracks. They settled there, soon joined by squatters, hippies, artists, and homeless individuals, all striving to realize a vision of freedom and community.

The government decided to give Christiania a chance as a “social experiment.” Despite repeated efforts by successive governments to normalize or shut down Christiania, it has endured since 1971. This longevity is partly attributed to its roots in the broader left-wing movements of the 1970s across Denmark and Western Europe, where many “rebels” eventually integrated into mainstream society while retaining elements of their youthful ideals.

Imagination Without Limits

Christiania features several historic military buildings from the 17th century, along with numerous inventive structures built by residents over the years. Hidden among the greenery, you’ll find an occult wooden cabin designed for yoga and meditation, the Pagoda with its bird-like double-curved roof, and a UFO-shaped house perched on stilts above the water, constructed by a creative architecture student in the 1980s.

There’s also a twelve-sided timber-framed house inspired by hobbit homes from The Lord of the Rings. These unique and imaginative constructions give Christiania a distinct architectural identity, unified only by a shared commitment to using recycled materials.

Residents do not pay rent but contribute a monthly usage fee to a communal fund that covers water, electricity, and property taxes.

Community Above All

As a child of the 1960s counterculture and hippie movements, Christiania remains an alternative society where leadership is absent, and decisions are made collectively. The sense of community is fostered through shared facilities, including a communal bathhouse, an energy workshop, a health center, a childcare house, and Bøssehuset (a cultural meeting place for LGBTQ+).

The Free Town also offers restaurants, music venues, a children’s theater, stables, and a bicycle workshop, where the famous Christiania bikes are produced.