At just 20 years old, Daniel Jackson has declared himself president of the Free Republic of Verdis, a self‑proclaimed micro‑nation nestled within a 125‑acre stretch of disputed forest along the Danube River, between Croatia and Serbia. The territory, known officially as “pocket three,” is unclaimed due to ongoing border disagreements—an opportunity Jackson seized back in 2019. Since then, the unofficial nation has developed its own flag, cabinet, currency (the euro) and laws.
Jackson, a British‑born digital designer originally from Australia, explains that Verdis began when he was just 14 as a “crazy experiment” with friends. They formalized their vision when he turned 18, designing a national flag and drafting basic legislation. He officially declared Verdis independent on May 30, 2019, and even issued passports and citizenships—though he advises against using them for formal travel.
Since its founding, Verdis has grown from its four original founders to claim nearly 400 official citizens, with over 15,000 applicants waiting for approval. Citizenship is selective, favoring applicants with skills like medicine or law enforcement. Some passport holders have used Verdis documents in travel, but Jackson warns that they are unofficial and not recognized by other states.
Access to Verdis is limited: the only route is by boat from Croatia. In October 2023, Croatian police detained Jackson and other settlers, banned him from entering Croatia, and deported them. In response, Jackson now leads a “government in exile” from Serbia, where he says authorities have been more receptive. He claims Croatian officials even set up surveillance along Verdis’ shoreline to block access.
Despite these setbacks, Jackson remains optimistic. He believes Croatia does not officially claim the territory, which he interprets as justification for Verdis’ sovereignty. His long-term goal is to regain physical access to the land and eventually hold elections — at which point he would step down voluntarily and return to being a regular citizen.
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