Figur 6 (Hvidovre gør gode tider bedre)

Museum-quality Luster paper Giclée printing quality, 12 colors Paper weight: 250 g/m2 FSC Label

Figure 6: Jette Jam 

In 1970s Hvidovre, the training ship Jette Jam was constructed and continuously transformed by the municipality’s youth, featuring a spray-painted hull and self-designed neon-coloured sails. Inspired by hip-hop culture and the municipality’s long tradition of self-building, local authorities actively supported young people’s right to create their own maritime culture, blending seamanship with graffiti and collective organisation. 

On the ship’s vibrant deck, sailor’s knots intertwined with breakdance routines, while in the cargo hold, students freely experimented with innovative ways to maintain their floating home. With municipal support, they not only learned to sail but also took ownership of their vessel’s upkeep and development—a core value in Hvidovre since the self-build era of the 1920s. 

From 1974 to 1981, the self-governing ship served as a maritime youth centre, where each new generation, with the backing of the municipality, developed novel forms of community and democracy. The young people saw it as their mission to challenge societal norms and create alternatives to traditional hierarchies. It became a floating laboratory for social change, where everyone was encouraged—and expected—to experiment with new ways of living and working together.