"in Sweden you can put up your tent on private property without asking," - "Yikes! "
It always sounds wrong when presented in a different context... so I better explain it:
Sweden is a country with very low population density. If you travel in Sweden with a tent, and you find a suitable place to put up the tent, you can do that. However, if you have any idea who the area belongs to, you should ask, first. If you ask, you will probably get some tips, maybe even a recommended better location, and access to water - Swedes are extremely friendly and happy to meet new people. If you travel by bicycle, many would let you put up your tent in their back garden... that's how open they are. But, if you don't ask, and have a good reason for that, it is not a big problem.
In Sweden, the right is guaranteed by the constitution, and it is seen as a vital part of individual freedom. You can read more about it here:
en.wikipedia.org
The article doesn't mention Denmark, but in Denmark we have the right to walk on any road, and in almost any forest, as long as we keep on the path, and we have the right to walk along the coast everywhere. It is basically impossible to own a beach here. Even if you buy a fully island, you cannot disallow that people arrive by canoe and use the beach. You can disallow them to go into the island, but as long as they stay on the beach and pay respect to nature and animals, there is nothing the island owner can do. You may go swimming naked, if you want, and the island owner still cannot prevent you from doing that. Few people would care anyway, but that's another issue.
Basically, countries that do not provide similar rights, are seen as lacking freedom. I still remember the first time I saw a beach where you had to pay to get access (Rome, Italy). I had never thought about that possibility before, and it was extremely disturbing and frustrating experience, it violated my perception of Italy as a free country, and by principle I rejected to pay so I didn't go to the beach that day. I am sure that my daughter would feel the same, if I took her to such a place.
Germans sue each other for many things. I think they have as many lawyers per inhabitant as USA, something that is hard for us Scandinavians to comprehend. We don't sue each other, we talk about it and use standard solutions where terms are set by the law. An employment contract was not required until the 1990s, and are usually still less than a page long. |
