The old Stock Exchange building in Copenhagen burned down. The palace known as Børsen dates back to 1625 and is one of the oldest in the Danish capital. The spire that made it stand out against the panorama of the Danish capital has entirely collapsed.
«Terrible images from the stock market this morning. 400 years of Danish cultural heritage on fire.” This is how Denmark’s Culture Minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, reacted on X to the news of the devastating fire that engulfed the 17th century building and caused the collapse of its famous spire.
Images that recall the fire that broke out exactly five years ago, between 15 and 16 April 2019, in Paris, with the Notre-Dame Cathedral enveloped in flames that started from the attic at the base of the spire.
“It is heartwarming to see how Børsen employees, emergency services and passing Copenhagen citizens work together to save art treasures and iconic images from the burning building,” the Danish minister added on X.
The building was currently undergoing restoration and was therefore surrounded by scaffolding. The collapsed spire depicted four dragons whose tails twist and were symbolically said to protect from enemies and fire. Rescue workers are working to save the large paintings and other valuable objects contained in the palace. Until 1974 the building housed the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, while today it is owned by the Danish Chamber of Commerce Dansk Erhverv.
