One of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings, the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange, also known as Boersen, caught fire on Tuesday, causing its iconic spire to collapse. The fire started in the copper roof and quickly spread throughout the building, with parts of the roof collapsing as well. Firefighters had difficulty extinguishing the fire due to safety concerns, but efforts were made to save valuable art treasures and paintings inside the building. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but it has been a devastating event for the city.
The Old Stock Exchange building, located next to Christiansborg Palace, a popular tourist attraction, was undergoing renovations at the time of the fire. The distinctive spire of the building, shaped like the tails of four dragons twined together, stood at a height of 56 meters (184 feet). The fire caused huge billows of smoke to rise over downtown Copenhagen, prompting emergency services and passersby to come together to help save precious art pieces from the burning building. Despite the efforts to contain the fire, significant damage has been done to the historic structure.
Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the public in assisting emergency services to save art treasures and iconic images from the building. The sight of people rushing inside the burning building to rescue paintings was described as “touching” in the midst of the chaos. While there were no reports of casualties from the fire, the damage to the Old Stock Exchange is considered a national disaster, with the building being a significant landmark in Copenhagen.
The Danish Chamber of Commerce, which had been housed in the Old Stock Exchange building after the Copenhagen Stock Exchange left in 1974, was also affected by the fire. Head of the chamber, Brian Mikkelsen, was seen helping to carry out paintings from the building. The adjacent Christiansborg Palace, which has suffered fires in the past, was evacuated as a precaution during the blaze. The street surrounding the burning building was cordoned off, causing traffic disruptions and rerouting of bus lines in the area.
The Old Stock Exchange building, a leading example of Dutch Renaissance style in Denmark, serves as a venue for gala dinners, conferences, parties, and other events apart from being a historic landmark. The fire has dealt a blow to the architectural heritage of Copenhagen, with the full extent of the damage yet to be assessed. With the main road closed and a large presence of emergency services in the area, it is expected that the Old Stock Exchange will undergo reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the fire. Despite the significant loss, efforts were made to ensure the safety of the public and valuable artifacts during the incident.
