A British man has created a small self-declared country in a disputed area along the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia.
Known as the Free Republic of Verdis, the micro-nation spans about 0.5 square kilometers and now claims to have nearly 400 citizens.
Daniel Jackson, a 20-year-old digital designer, first imagined the idea when he was a teenager.
What started as a fun project with friends eventually turned into an effort to build a functioning government.
Verdis now has its own flag, cabinet, laws, and even uses the Euro as its currency.
The land, often referred to as “pocket three,” is unclaimed due to a long-standing border issue between the two neighboring countries.
Jackson officially declared the republic’s independence in 2019 and began setting up the structure of the government at age 18.
Despite its small size, Verdis accepts citizens from around the world.
Over 15,000 people have applied for citizenship, though only around 400 have been approved, mainly those with useful skills like healthcare or law enforcement experience.
Citizens receive passports, although they’re not valid for international travel.
Access to the territory is only possible by boat from the Croatian city of Osijek.
Croatian authorities have blocked attempts to settle the land and even detained Jackson and others in 2023, banning him from re-entering the country.
Jackson now operates from abroad and frequently visits Belgrade, where he says the reception has been more open.
He continues to lead what he calls a “government in exile” and hopes to return to the land in the future.
Verdis began as a small experiment but has since grown into a unique project attracting global attention.
Jackson plans to hold elections if the country becomes fully established and hopes to one day live there as a regular citizen.