01.05.2026 12:21
Jonas Lauwiner, a 31-year-old man in Switzerland, used a loophole in the legal system to transfer 117,000 square meters of unowned land to his name without paying, and declared his own kingdom. By meticulously examining land registry records, Lauwiner began generating income from these plots, including site roads, sparking major controversy. He defended his actions, saying, 'I didn't spill blood.'
Jonas Lauwiner, 31, living in Switzerland, turned a legal loophole in the country into an opportunity. According to regulations, plots of land appearing as "unclaimed" in the land registry can be requested for free by applying to the municipality. Noticing this detail, Lauwiner examined land records one by one and identified unclaimed areas.
It is reported that the total size of the collected plots has reached 117,000 square meters, and among these areas, 83 different roads were also found.
BEGAN CHARGING CITIZENS A "USAGE FEE"
The active use of some of the roads owned by Lauwiner in residential complexes pitted local residents and municipalities against each other. It was learned that the young man demanded money from people using these roads under the guise of a "maintenance fee." Additionally, it was among the allegations that Lauwiner charged those wishing to build near these roads for passage and construction permits.
DECLARED HIS KINGDOM, SAID "I DID NOT SHED BLOOD"
Lauwiner, who declared himself a "king," described the process as a "military operation." Stating that he carried out all transactions digitally, Lauwiner claimed he took possession of these lands "without shedding blood."
Operating from a building in Burgdorf that he called his "palace," Lauwiner notably placed an old amphibious tank in front of the building. Stating that he did not pose a threat to the Swiss state, Lauwiner expressed that constitutional monarchies are not a problem when properly managed.
STRONG REACTION FROM OFFICIALS: SYSTEM WAS ABUSED
Lauwiner's initiative was harshly criticized by politicians and local administrators. A city council member described the situation as a "scandal," claiming that Lauwiner demanded either his name be given to a road he had seized or 140,000 pounds sterling to transfer it. A lawsuit for "abuse" filed by lawyer Loris Fabrizio Mainardi was rejected by the court.
LEGISLATIVE CHANGE ON THE AGENDA
Following mounting reactions, some cantons, particularly Bern, took action. New regulations plan to make it mandatory for unclaimed lands to be offered to municipalities first. The aim is to prevent similar incidents from recurring.