Freetown Christiania

Freetown Christiania, or simply Christiania, is a community that essentially hijacked an abandoned army camp and renamed it home. It is situated in the center of the Danish city of Copenhagen. You may have heard that if squatters move in on a home in America, it may be challenging to kick them out. Well, it appears that Denmark is much worse. Since they arrived in 1971, these squatters have remained.

The commune ran as if it were a separate nation right in the center of the metropolis for many years. Government officials in Copenhagen allowed this to continue for so long that it appeared to get out of hand, and they didn't even technically abide by Danish law. The community sold marijuana openly for years while the police pretended not to notice, but in 2004 they began to take action. By 2010, the commune had made the decision to abide by Danish law in order to remain where they were. Despite this, you can still find marijuana occasionally, and the police occasionally conduct raids. Because of the bloodshed that the drug trade causes, some locals want it to be destroyed. After all, these are Danish hippies.

The initial commune was founded by artists and drifters who made the decision to move inside the vast, unoccupied military base that had been built back in 1617. It had not been used since World War II and had been vacant ever since.

Finally, in 1971, locals assaulted the gates, broke in, and opened shop. For years, they lived reasonably freely, making art and using drugs while creating their own currency. There are numerous restaurants and souvenir shops, and the tourism industry is thriving. Theft, heavy narcotics, and violence are all forbidden. Though it's still courteous to ask, photography is no longer as restrictive as it formerly was.

• Country: Denmark