Denmark’s historic 17th-century Børsen stock exchange building, one of the oldest buildings in the city, was engulfed in flames in central Copenhagen on Tuesday the 16th of April, when its iconic tower collapsed, leaving bystanders in shock at the devastating sight, likening it to the 2019 fire at Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral, reports the British broadcaster BBC.
Everyone inside the building managed to leave, with several people rushing to save the historic paintings.
“400 years of Danish cultural heritage in flames,” Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt wrote on X.
‼️ The historic Børsen Stock Exchange building, built in the 17th century, is on fire in #Copenhagen
The fire engulfed the building in the center of the Danish capital, built during the reign of Christian IV in 1619-1640. The stock exchange is considered a historical monument… pic.twitter.com/JHFBtPN2Kq
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) April 16, 2024
The historic stock exchange building was being renovated and covered with scaffolding and plastic covering. The building was home to the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which described what happened on Tuesday morning as a terrible sight.
“Terrible pictures of the stock exchange. So sad. An iconic building that means a lot to us all… A moment of our own Notre Dame Cathedral,” Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen wrote on X.
Video from @DRNyheder of the moment the iconic twisting dragon tail spire collapsed. #Børsen #Copenhagen pic.twitter.com/xYbi7yAB2j
— Shane Woodford (@WoodfordinDK) April 16, 2024
The BBC reports that the historic stock exchange building in Copenhagen was commissioned by King Christian IV and designed in the Dutch Renaissance style. The spire of the building was decorated with four dragon tails twisted into a spear and three crowns, symbolising Denmark’s ties with Norway and Sweden.
The building, which dates from 1625, is close to the Danish Parliament and the Royal Palace. The BBC, citing Danish media, reported that the nearby square was evacuated.
It was not immediately clear what caused the fire.
Rescue services have pointed out that the scaffolding made their work more difficult. The fire, which officials said was most intense around the tower, is believed to have severely damaged much of the building.
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