Verdis: A 20-Year-Old’s Dream Nation Comes to Life
At an age when most are navigating college or early careers, Daniel Jackson, a British digital designer, has declared himself president of Verdis, a micronation he founded. This self-proclaimed country, located on a 0.5-square-kilometer patch of disputed land between Croatia and Serbia, boasts a flag, cabinet, currency, and nearly 400 citizens. However, Jackson’s ambitious project hasn’t been without hurdles, including being barred from his own “nation.”
The story of Verdis began with a teenage dream. Jackson, now 20, first imagined creating his own country at 14. “It was just a bit of an experiment at first with a few mates,” he told news agency SWNS. The idea took shape when he discovered a small, unclaimed forest along the Danube River, a result of an unresolved border dispute between Croatia and Serbia.
On May 30, 2019, Jackson officially declared the Free Republic of Verdis independent. The tiny territory, known as “pocket three” on maps, is now recognized as the world’s second-smallest country, trailing only Vatican City. Spanning less than 125 acres, Verdis is a sliver of land that neither Croatia nor Serbia claims, making it a unique opportunity for Jackson’s vision.
A digital designer who builds virtual worlds on Roblox, Jackson began shaping Verdis into a functioning state at 18. “We started making Verdis a reality by forming some laws and a flag,” he said. What began with just four people has grown to 400 citizens, with thousands more expressing interest in joining the micronation.
Verdis issues its own passports, though Jackson advises against using them for international travel. The nation’s official languages are English, Croatian, and Serbian, and it uses the Euro as its currency. Access to Verdis is limited, reachable only by boat from Osijek, Croatia, which has posed challenges for settlement efforts.
Jackson is selective about who can join Verdis. “It’s a very small country, so we have to be careful who we let in,” he explained. The micronation prioritizes individuals with in-demand skills, such as medicine or policing, to build a functional society. Despite its small size, Verdis has a structured government and a cabinet to manage its operations.
However, establishing Verdis has not been smooth. In October 2023, Croatian police detained Jackson and others attempting to settle the disputed land. They were deported, and Jackson received a lifetime ban from Croatia. “They said we were a threat to homeland security,” he claimed, noting that no clear reason was provided.
Since the incident, Jackson has operated a “government in exile” and alleges that Croatian authorities have set up surveillance to block access from Serbia. Despite the resistance, he remains hopeful, stating, “We want a good relationship with them in the future.” He frequently travels to Belgrade, where Serbian officials have been more receptive to his project.
Jackson insists his goal isn’t power. “I just want to be a normal citizen,” he said. He views Verdis as a remarkable achievement, describing the feeling of standing in his created country as “magical.” The forested land, unremarkable to outsiders, holds profound significance for him as a symbol of his vision.
Undeterred by setbacks, Jackson is determined to return to Verdis. “It’s a matter of when, not if, we get back on the land,” he told SWNS. He argues that since Croatia doesn’t claim the territory, Verdis has a legitimate right to exist, and he believes strongly in its future.
The tale of Verdis is a testament to one young man’s ambition to turn a childhood fantasy into reality. While the micronation faces significant challenges, Jackson’s persistence and vision continue to drive this extraordinary experiment in nation-building.