Photography and Running in the Christiania Neighbourhood of Copenhagen

Photography and Running in the Christiania Neighbourhood of Copenhagen

5/31/2016 6:30:38 PM

I visited Christiana last year and took one of the tours with a local resident (I can recommend the tour by the way). The rules on the sign in question applies specifically to the “Green Light District,” also known as the immediate area around “Pusher Street,” where drugs are sold. There are a number of prominent “No Photos” signs at the entrances to this area. The sign also has a map in the lower left-hand corner indicating where the small Green Light District is situated within the larger Christiana area.

As I understand it, members of the Danish Police were entering Christiana undercover to take photos of the hash-sellers (who now wear ski masks, or they did last year anyway) as part of periodic crackdowns on the drug trade. Prohibiting photos helps protect everyone’s anonymity. Running in the Green Light District is prohibited for the same reason: people have been known to run from the police there, and so if one person starts running, others may assume the police are present and start running too, creating a panic. In short, the rules, which are community norms, not laws, boil down to: “hey there’s drugs around, everyone be cool.”

Our guide made it clear that photos and/or running were not allowed in this specific area, but were fine anywhere else, though the usual street photography etiquette applies, as some locals may not like their picture taken. Looking back through my pictures, I see a number of instances of kids running around and adults riding bikes outside of the Green Light District without incident. Photographs elsewhere in Christiana of the architecture or local transportation are perfectly acceptable:

Pedal-powered car
Source: me

I can’t imagine that you did anything wrong by simply taking a picture of this sign, which I believe is set back somewhat from the actual district. I, in fact, have my own picture of the same sign, and nobody objected:

Green Light District rules sign
Source: me

5/31/2016 1:08:20 PM

In the green light district there are 3 rules set by the community. Two of them seem strange and unusual, so they are given explanations.

  1. Have fun – no explanation needed.
  2. No running – explanation: because it causes panic.
  3. No photography – explanation: because buying and selling hash is still illegal. (implied: and you may accidentally catch a deal on photo and nobody here will like that)

The key is the implied part. They can’t just write “please do not create evidence of illegal activity that’s going on here”. Because that’s pretty much asking to disobey a law that requires you to report a criminal activity. Why break the law openly if you can just evade it?

Those rules are not law, they are community guidelines. The law is “selling hash is illegal”. This law has to be coped with, hence the “no photos” guideline.

5/31/2016 5:08:39 AM

Your translation is incorrect- the German text says the same. It would be clearer if the dash after photographing would not be missing, but that is a minor error.

5/31/2016 3:53:54 AM

My understanding is that the real taboo of taking photos of anything related to drug dealing: vendors, customers, drugs, shops.

While the act of taking a photo is not “illegal” according to Danish law, Christiania is famously self-governing. There is serious potential to upset people who do not want themselves or their (illegal) dealings to be recorded (because it could lead to prosecution), and they may assault you, break your camera, etc.

Outside Pusher Street, photography is generally tolerated, but be polite and use common sense: ask people for permission, check with shop owners if it’s OK, etc.

Likewise, the most likely reason for someone to run in Christiania is that the police are coming. Hence the prohibition: if some random tourist is sprinting to the toilets, others may think he is running from the cops and start running as well, and the dealers will not appreciate unnecessarily shutting up their shops.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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