Copenhagen’s Youth Centre Resurrected
About a year ago, around this time, the infamous ”Ungdomshus” on Jagtvej 69 in Copenhagen was demolished. To make a long story short, the “Ungdomshus” or “Youth Centre” as it’s known, was a haven for outcasts, lost souls and creative sorts looking for a place to hang their hat.
They lived for many years in a house owned by the City of Copenhagen, virtually rule and rent free. The idea that they could live there, hold festivities and run things as they chose indefinitely, was based on a handshake agreement between the two parties.
The City of Copenhagen eventually sold the house and although the kids were warned about it, they refused to leave. Last year, they were forced out of the home they had used for many years and left to wonder where their place was in this world. The result was various clashes, demonstrations and riots with police and general disruption and rampage in Copenhagen.
Much of the international media painted a rather one sided view of the Ungdomshus as a refuge for trouble-makers who had little or nothing to contribute to the general public. That perhaps, is not completely true, as it was also a focal point of the community where all walks of life came and went, not just people living on the fringes of society.
However, during the eviction and eventual demolition of the Youth Centre early last year, some Danes were understandably fed up with some of the “Ungdomshus” member’s extreme and completely unacceptable antics. Other people felt that it was important to provide the kids a new Ungdomshus, not only for their sake, but also because society needs non-mainstream, creative, alternative thinkers to keep us in check and to set question marks on how we’re living and where we are headed.
Since the house was demolished last year, the City of Copenhagen has tried to negotiate some sort of workable deal with the young people. They have been offered various locations to reestablish their new digs but until now weren’t interested in the offers.
For now the young people have accepted an offer of a new place to call home. It is Frederikssundsvejens Skole (school), located in Copenhagen’s Northwest Quarter, which is due to be demolished in the summer of 2008. The school has much more room than the kids will ever need at around 5,000 m2 which means co-tenants need to be found who are willing to mesh with the youth’s lifestyle.
According to various reports, some of the neighbors are not too thrilled. There is even talk of a petition going around. I guess there’s some truth in the saying “don’t burn bridges,” because the memories of the violent activities of last year don’t fade. There is still a bad taste left in many people’s mouths, and as the saying goes “once bitten twice shy.” Hopefully, an amicable agreement will be reached by all. I guess we’ll have to see how it all pans out.
