Verdis on the border

Daniel Jackson, now 20, leads a micronation born on a disputed land strip between Croatia and Serbia and lives in exile after a Croatian eviction.

Verdis born from a border dispute

Daniel Jackson, now 20, leads the Free Republic of Verdis, a micronation founded when he was 14 with friends who spotted an unclaimed strip of forest between Croatia and Serbia. The 1.6 hectare area sits on the Croatian side of the Danube, outside Croatia’s self defined border, and has never been inhabited. Verdis has a government, laws, a flag, and about 15,000 citizenship applications, with roughly 400 accepted. Legal experts say the claim rests on contested border definitions and some readings of international law favoring the oldest active claimant when disputes exist.

Croatian authorities forced a settlement attempt in 2023 and Jackson and his allies were removed. He is now living in Dover, working as a Roblox game developer. Funding comes from merchandise, donations, and a cryptocurrency donation drive; supporters talk of using NGO partnerships to fund a settlement. Croatia has installed cameras along the Verdis coastline and access to the land remains restricted, complicating any future return for the project’s leadership.

The Verdis story shows how border disputes can spark digital era activism. A teenage project can attract thousands of applications and international attention, yet remain legally unrecognized and vulnerable to police action. It raises questions about the line between playful national identity and real political risk in a region with a tense history.

For Verdis to gain legitimacy, it would need formal recognition and a real settlement, not just a symbolic flag. The path is uncertain and may hinge on changing governments, European norms, and public support. The Eurovision angle highlights soft power as a route to attention, but it cannot replace the hard work of governance and law.

Highlights

The border dream tests how far an idea can travel before the map catches up.