Nutopia

  • Micronations
  • Founded 1 April, 1973
  • Embassy 1 White St., Tribeca

On the 1st of April, 1973 John Lennon and Yoko Ono announced: ‘[...] the birth of a conceptual country, NUTOPIA. Citizenship of the country can be obtained by declaration of your awareness of NUTOPIA. NUTOPIA has no land, no boundaries, no passports, only people. NUTOPIA has no laws other than cosmic. All people of NUTOPIA are ambassadors of the country. As two ambassadors of NUTOPIA, we ask for diplomatic immunity and recognition in the United Nations of our country and its people.’ The Nutopian anthem (included on Lennon’s album Mind Games) consists of only a few seconds of silence, finding a resemblance in John Cage's 4’33’’. Besides stating an ideology that is in line with the famous song ‘Imagine’ this was also seen as a satirical response to Lennon’s ongoing immigration troubles.

Explore De Facto

Somaliland

Somaliland is a self-declared state, internationally considered to be an autonomous region of Somalia. It lies in northwestern Somalia, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden. After the overthrow of Somali military dictator Siad Barr, the former British protectorate declared independence in 1991. Somaliland is ranked as partly free by Freedom House, and maintains informal ties with some foreign governments. The de facto state issues its own money: the Somaliland shilling. However, Somaliland’s self-proclaimed independence remains unrecognized by any country or international organization.

Baarle

Baarle is a tiny village that is divided in to thirty pieces of land—mostly enclaves, sub-enclaves and exclaves—on the border of Belgium and the Netherlands. The Belgian parts of the village are called Baarle-Hertog and the Dutch form Baarle-Nassau. The village has two mayors, two police offices and two town councils. The border runs straight through streets, squares, gardens and even houses. It is not without reason that Baarle is often called the most curious village in the world.

North Dumpling Island

North Dumpling Island was bought for $2.5 million in 1986 by entrepreneur Dean Kamen, the founding father of the Segway Human Transporter. After a denial from local officials to build his own wind turbine on the island he decided to secede from the United States, and even got his friend, then president George W. Bush to comply. The island has its own flag, constitution, anthem and Dean Kamen did eventually build his own turbine, which along with several solar panels provides all the energy for the island.