First Impressions of Nørrebro

Here is the entrance to my apartment in Nørrebro, where I'll live for the next three months while studying cooperative housing in this wonderful city of Copenhagen, Denmark. Typical of Copenhagen, there is active street life and across the street the Saturday flea market along the wall of Assistens Cemetary, the Mission Dolores Park of Copenhagen.

My apartment shares an address with Five Star, so the aroma of frying falafel regularly wafts up through my windows.

Living in a coop building means I have access to a courtyard that is a luxurious escape from the street and is full of personality. I'm looking forward to meeting more neighbors who have made this place come to life!

The entrance features graffiti "STOP FORT EUROPA", "SHARE YOUR COUNTRY" and "LIFE'S A BURDEN, DON'T LET HIPPIES TELL YOU OTHERWISE."

The courtyard is a recently renovated one on top of a parking garage. The parking entrance is under the newer building to the right of this photo, which also features a fancy Oyster restaurant.

The courtyard includes idyllic touches including hammocks, chickens and even bunnies!

My first impression of Nørrebro is that it is made of three major, overlapping broad groups: ethnically diverse immigrants, radical youth and well-healed co-opers. My building encompasses all three with the ground-floor falafel restaurant, the outspoken graffiti, and the pastoral courtyard. 

Nørrebro could easily be compared to the Mission District of San Francisco. It's known for its large immigrant communities, and there is a lot more ethnic diversity here than in the rest of central Copenhagen, but as an 'up and coming' neighborhood, it seems like the desirable parts of the neighborhood are already far down the road of gentrification.

I had to seek out an Arabic bakery and on my way back, ran into this grocery store.

Shops throughout the neighborhood cater to different audiences and offer treats for everyone's eyes and noses.

There is a also very visible contingent of radical youth. As on my apartment building, there are catchy slogans and bright graffiti everywhere in the neighborhood. Of what I can read of it there is a strong antifascist and pro-immigration sentiment in the street art community.

I now finally understand the link between punk culture and veganism!

The Free Gymnasium is sort of like an alternative American high school. The programs sound awesome. For example "'Society, Nature & Action ' is the field of study for you who are interested in national and international political relations, conflicts and contexts, and want analytical and reflective skills that can translated into action in a complicated world."

It seems like as generations of radical youth in the neighborhood have grown up, they have started a lot of radical, but more polished places, most of which are part of the cooperative movement.

Bo90 is a unique cohousing community that is owned as a nonprofit housing association.

Jægersbrogade is known for its local and handcrafted shops as well as cobble-stone street. It's unique character is ensured by its strong cooperative housing and business associations.

This shop on Jægersbrogade epitomizes the street's entrepreneurial and sustainable ethos. The sign reads "made from fabric leftovers minimizing waste."

Despite the temptation to categorize the people and institutions of Nørrebro, the beauty of the neighborhood is in its dynamic cross-overs.

Everyone loses gloves. Here everyone has a lost and found for them.

Unpretentious street furniture. It seems that everyone is welcome to sit here, but I don't know the meaning of the  red flag.

ByOasen (City Oasis) is a city program that has a large park buzzing with activity on a weekday afternoon.

Nørrebro is also a typical modern Copenhagen neighborhood with a critical mass of bikers all the time and frequent bus service (with WiFi). Just by living in a dense urban area there is everyday contact with everyone else.