As Croatia and Serbia disputed their post-Yugoslav borders, an overlooked 125-acre area on the west bank of the Danube River, known as "Pocket 3," remained unclaimed for nearly three decades. In 2019, Daniel Jackson, a British teenager then aged 14, identified this oversight on a map. Four years later, in 2023, Jackson and a group of about a dozen friends ventured to the site, where they declared the establishment of the Free Republic of Verdis, marking the latest claim in a series of small territorial assertions in the region.
The group camped on land and boats, constructed dirt roads, and erected basic huts, envisioning a new nation complete with a flag, constitution, coat of arms, and system of governance. Jackson assumed the role of president. The budding micronation planned to finance its administration through merchandise sales and membership application fees. However, only days after the declaration, Croatian authorities arrested the group, dismantled their settlement, and imposed a lifetime ban on Jackson and his associates from entering Croatia.
Undeterred, Jackson, now 21, resigned from his previous occupation developing online games and has since dedicated himself full-time to the Verdis project. He operates a "government in exile" from representative offices located in Dover, England, and Novi Sad, Serbia. While Verdis lacks official international recognition and its passports hold no legal value, the group maintains an active online presence with hundreds of thousands of followers and a staff of approximately 20. Funding derives from application fees, merchandise, donations, and investor grants, with a substantial portion directed toward humanitarian initiatives.
In recent developments, Verdis received commendation at a United Nations gala for its humanitarian contributions, notably a £15,000 donation to primary school projects in the Ivory Coast. The Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research, an American think tank, recognized Verdis’s efforts, which included providing school supplies and well construction. Jackson described the UN event as a positive milestone, noting their receipt of special UN passes and an invitation to New York.
Verdis is not the only self-declared micronation in this area. About 12 miles north lies the Free Republic of Liberland, a 2.7-square-mile territory claimed in 2015 by Czech politician Vit Jedlicka. That same year, a group of Polish nationals founded the Kingdom of Enclava nearby. None of these entities has achieved official state status or widespread recognition.
Jackson emphasizes Verdis as an experiment in governance for the 21st century, aspiring for the nation to serve as a neutral mediator between larger countries. Despite challenges and their unrecognized status, he argues that the initiative is more than a publicity stunt, pointing to ongoing efforts in humanitarian aid and diplomatic outreach as foundations for potential future recognition.