Has any one of you travelled to Europe in 1971 and visited Copenhagen? Any memories of Christiania - founded in September 1971 - or a hippy place called Green Camp? Or possibly of Amsterdam, which was a hippy centre in 1970 and later? Where people slept out on Dam Square or in the Vondelpark? Has any one hitchhiked across Europe in those days? This is what I did then, when I was only fifteen years old and I met many hippies, old and young. Some of those people must be around 80 by now, but they'll probably still feel quite young (old hippies enjoy eternal youth, as we all know). Meile
Hi Meile, long long looong time ago yes ... I hitchhiked to Amsterdam many times, from 1972 when I was 18 ... slept in the Vondelpark or in sleep-ins, met good and not so good people ... ach but vague is my memory ...
Go back to Amsterdam and refresh your memory! The Vondelpark is still there, as are the sleep-ins and the good people. The not so good people are only a small minority nowadays, so here's your chance!
Meile, I've been in Amsterdam in the year 2000 and I thought it was pretty different ! All the streets were filled with young people in black dresses talking into cell phones. But then, this is a while ago as well ...
My fiancee and I traveled 'round Europe in the summer and fall of '71. We spent quite a lot of time in Copenhagen & Amsterdam where I played guitar and did some folk singing in clubs. Vietnam was a big issue then and we initially encountered a lot of anti-American sentiment. We understood their feelings and countered by trying to be good tourists and explaining that a lot of Americans, like us, hated that stupid war more than any non-americans possibly could. I'd been in the military from '63 to '66 and felt strongly about the injustice of young kids dying while profits soared and idiot ideas like The Domino Effect were foisted off on us. But, the trip itself remains to this day one of the more edifying and memorable experiences of my life. Wish I could relive it...
hitched through Europe in the summer of '70 Meile... but sadly not to Amsterdam.. going back in a couple of weeks time, maybe then I'll visit there with a friend who I believe was there then... I hope you get to meet up with old friends from back then.. and this old hippie will be, and always feel, forever young...
Hey Meile.. I slept in Vondelpark..lazied on Dam square..1969 got picked up by police while sleepin in the C&A passage.. stayed on a houseboat as well on Brouwersgracht.. Copenhagen..i stayed in Christiania..which was a freestate... I heard about the sleep in Green camp.. but never went there.. I suggest that you read my travel journal.. where do you get the Meile from?my name is Emiel did you visit Paradiso in Amsterdam?? Tiger
I was a frustrated hippy back then. I did travel across Europe in 1971 - 1975. I was in the U.S. Navy. I found quite the opposite regarding anti-american sentiment. We were welcome with open arms in all the countries I visited (except France and Yugoslavia).
Yugoslavia didn't like us either, we got arrested for having stuff stolen from our tent.. and yes, you read that right..WE got arested at rifle-point.. never did find out what happened to the stuff we lost..
Hi Meile What a blast from the past! I lived in Vondelpark for almost three months in 1974 (June-Aug) and for a shorter period in '75 (The last year for sleeping out, I believe). My domain, with a few other Brits, was in front of the statue. In due course we were joined by other nationalities and expanded. There was always someone playing a guitar and singing, eh. Do you recall a little black guy named Jimmy? He used to sing and play guitar and would play The Joker and Old Man. Brilliant! I loved that guy. We'd sometimes head over to the Melkweg and Paradisio and the Brandery in the Nieuw Market (Owned by a yank by the name of Sam, if I recall correctly) and located behind the 'heavy' Cotton Club. A wild bar! I was also in the Nieuw Market on the day of the infamous Black Monday riots. I also visited Christiana in 1975 and stayed there for several days. I travelled with an American named, Tom, and we met up with a young Swedish dude who we knew from Vondelpark, Dag (he was around 15yrs, I was 18yrs). We were in Christiana when police raided the compound in full riot gear and with dogs to arrest someone. On their way out - or rout - everyone turned from running away from them to running after them. Some of the police VW vans were severely vandalised with bricks and other missles thrown by hand. Were the Hells Angels across the river when you were there with the bear-on-a-chain? I remember the Trading Post and Cafe Electric Ladyland. We stayed in one of the brick tenament buildings. What an anarchic place that was - full of Vikings with swords and bows and Inuit from Greenland. Never seen so much drinking and so many fights in such a short space of time! Thxs for bringing back some fond memories. Jon(athan)
