A young man from the UK has taken quite an unconventional path—he declared himself the president of a self-proclaimed nation after claiming a piece of land in the Balkans. This endeavor has surprisingly led to recognition from the United Nations.
Daniel Jackson, who is just 21, first conceived the notion of creating his own country alongside friends when he was only 14. They stumbled upon unclaimed land along the Danube River due to a border conflict between Croatia and Serbia.
On May 30, 2019, he officially announced the establishment of what he called the Free Republic of Verdis, claiming one of these land parcels known as Pocket-3 on the map.
Since then, Daniel has dedicated himself to building this new nation, and his humanitarian efforts were recently acknowledged with an award at a UN gala in New York.
During the event held in the UN Delegates dining hall, Daniel received the award for the assistance provided by Verdis to the Ivory Coast. He was honored to deliver a speech during the ceremony.
“It was definitely intense, a unique experience. There were many individuals of high status present, which was a bit nerve-wracking,” he shared. “At 21, I’m still adjusting to attending events surrounded by such influential people.”
Following this, Verdis was invited to participate in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Youth Mobilization Segment on October 9, where its Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Jeffrey Li, spoke about the nation’s previous efforts and future endeavors.
Daniel expressed, “Going to New York always opens up opportunities for dialogue and establishing connections. Having my colleague speak at the UNGA was incredible.”
He continued, noting that it helped broaden Verdis’ outreach regarding youth involvement and aid initiatives.
Verdis spans approximately 125 acres, which technically positions it as one of the world’s smallest nations, just after Vatican City. However, access to this land is quite limited, as it can only be reached by boat from Osijek, and attempts to establish a permanent settlement have not succeeded so far. Daniel has also faced a ban from entering Croatia.
He alleged that Croatian authorities have set up surveillance cameras along the coastline to prevent access from Serbia, essentially labeling Verdis as a “government in exile.”
On a brighter note, he has made progress with Serbian officials and has even been granted citizenship there.
“We’re still managing to thrive despite the blockades, making headway toward our goals,” Daniel remarked. “However, Croatia remains quite harsh, making it tough for our officials to enter the area. They’re closely monitoring us.”
He expressed hope for a future where the blockade might be lifted, stating, “We’re continuously striving for it.”
Identifying as both British and Australian, Daniel has gone as far as creating passports, a national flag, merchandise, governing laws, and even a coat of arms for Verdis.
Moreover, he has established two embassies: one in Dover and another in Novi Sad, Serbia. The country accommodates about 400 official citizens, with English, Croatian, and Serbian as its official languages, and the Euro as its currency.
Since launching Verdis, the initiative has garnered considerable attention on social platforms, receiving over 1,000 inquiries monthly from potential citizens eager to join. However, the limited land area enforces careful consideration regarding new memberships.
Daniel, who put aside his job designing Roblox worlds to commit fully to Verdis, reflected, “This idea was born when I was 14, stemming from what was initially a fun experiment with friends. To an outsider, it might just look like a stretch of forest, but recognizing it as a newly created country is truly enchanting.”
“I’m astounded by how far it has come. But honestly, it’s not surprising due to the incredible team behind us and the enduring support we’ve received.”
