There Is a Town Where Money Is Completely Useless
Most towns measure daily life in prices, wages, and receipts. Even places that value simplicity still rely on money as the main organizing force. In a forested stretch of northwest Denmark, however, there is a long-running community that deliberately keeps money out of its daily operations. It has not entirely erased money, but it has stripped it of its usual power.
The place is Thylejren, also known as Thy Camp. It began in 1970 as a temporary countercultural gathering inspired by large music festivals of the era. The original plan was to meet, experiment, and disperse. Instead, a group stayed through the winter, built shelters, and slowly turned a short-lived event into a permanent settlement. More than 50 years later, the camp remains.
Money Exists, But It Is Not the Point
@thisismoney Thy Lejren (Thylejren) is a long-standing countercultural community in northwest Jutland, founded in 1970 as a living experiment in alternative ways of life. What began as a festival became a year-round commune where people share resources, trade skills, and rely on mutual support instead of a money-focused economy, all while creating art, music, and a strong sense of collective belonging. #ThisIsMoney #Money #News ♬ original sound – .·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.
Thylejren does not operate as a cash-free bubble sealed off from Denmark. Residents live under Danish law and interact with the outside economy. The community runs an organic grocery store, a café, and a pub. Festivals draw visitors. These activities involve money by necessity.
Within the community, however, money plays a significantly smaller role than it does almost anywhere else. There are no conventional salaries, no rent is paid between residents, and there is no property market. Daily life is organized around participation.
People at Thylejren do not even hold job titles in the traditional sense. Instead, tasks are shared and discussed. Someone may take responsibility for food preparation, building maintenance, childcare, or organizing events. These roles evolve over time, based on individual abilities, availability, and community needs.
While there may be shared funds or internal arrangements to cover collective expenses, there is no evidence of residents charging one another wages for labor or rent for housing.
Food and Housing Practices
Image via Getty Images/firina
Gardens are an integral part of life at Thylejren, and shared gardening has long been a cornerstone of the camp’s culture. At the same time, food does not come exclusively from the ground. The presence of an organic grocery store means the community also sources and distributes food through more conventional channels.
Access to meals and groceries is tied to participation in the community rather than individual purchasing power. As for homes at Thylejren, they initially served as temporary shelters and gradually evolved into permanent structures over time. Many were built by residents themselves. The land is collectively used, and housing does not follow a landlord-tenant model.
That does not mean space is fluid or unclaimed. Long-term residents have stable homes, and dwellings are recognized within the community. The difference is that housing is not treated as an investment or a source of income. Shelter is organized through agreement and trust.
Low Crime Without a Simple Explanation
Crime in Thylejren is rare. The absence of visible wealth gaps, combined with strong social ties and shared responsibility, reduces many of the pressures that fuel conflict elsewhere.
Disagreements still happen. They are handled through meetings and discussions rather than enforcement or punishment. In a small, long-term community, unresolved conflict has lasting consequences, which creates strong incentives to address problems early.
Thylejren is not an open-door experiment without boundaries. The population is generally limited, typically capped at around 75 residents, although the exact number has fluctuated over time. There is no waiting list. Moving in usually requires frequent visits, long-term involvement, and approval through community meetings.
This structure has helped the camp survive. Decisions take time and change is slow, but the result is a settlement that has lasted for decades.