Tragic fire Breaks out at Historic Copenhagen Stock Exchange

A devastating fire has consumed Denmark’s iconic old stock exchange building in the heart of Copenhagen.

The 17th Century Børsen is one of the city’s oldest buildings and spectators were shocked as its iconic spire collapsed in the fire.

Everyone inside the building managed to evacuate safely, and individuals hurried to save some of its valuable paintings.

Culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt expressed deep sorrow over the loss of 400 years of Danish cultural heritage.

The building, which has a rich history dating back to 1625, is conveniently located near Denmark’s parliament, the Folketing, which is housed in the old royal palace of Christiansborg castle. According to reports from Danish media, the square in the vicinity is currently being cleared.

The old stock exchange was undergoing renovations and was covered in scaffolding and protective plastic. The Danish chamber of commerce, currently located there, expressed their shock at the devastating scenes witnessed on Tuesday morning.

According to Danish TV, local craftsman Henrik Grage described the day as tragic. “This is like our own version of Notre-Dame,” he remarked, drawing a parallel to the devastating fire that consumed the roof and spire of the iconic cathedral in the heart of Paris nearly five years ago.

A devastating incident occurred at Notre-Dame on 15 April 2019, when a fire erupted under the eaves of the iconic cathedral. Tragically, this incident took place during a time when the cathedral was undergoing extensive renovations and was covered in scaffolding. Investigators have identified potential causes for the incident, including a short circuit in the electrics or a worker’s cigarette that was not properly extinguished.

The cause of the fire in Copenhagen is currently unknown, but emergency services have mentioned that the presence of scaffolding has posed challenges to their operation. Officials have reported that a significant portion of the building has been severely affected by the fire, with the highest intensity observed around its tower.

The fire department chief, Jakob Vedsted Andersen, mentioned the challenges that firefighters encountered while trying to access the area beneath the old copper roof.

“I’m at a loss for words – this is an unimaginable tragedy,” one observer shared with Danish media.

Members of the public, along with emergency services and chamber of commerce director Brian Mikkelsen, bravely rushed into the building to rescue the valuable art collection housed in the Børsen building.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed her deep concern and sorrow over the devastating incident that occurred, describing it as a significant loss for Danish heritage.

Local museum inspector Benjamin Asmussen expressed his distress while watching the fire, as the old stock exchange housed valuable paintings depicting significant figures from Danish history dating back to the 17th Century. The fire department chief reported that all the paintings and other valuable items have been successfully rescued.

King Frederik X expressed his sorrow at witnessing the devastating fire that engulfed a significant symbol of Denmark’s rich cultural heritage. The iconic dragon spire, which has long been synonymous with Copenhagen, suffered irreparable damage. He took over from Queen Margrethe II in January, and the events planned for her 84th birthday on Tuesday had to be scaled back due to the fire.

The majestic Dutch Renaissance-style building on the city’s Slotsholmen, or palace island, was commissioned by Denmark’s King Christian IV with the ambitious goal of transforming Copenhagen into a bustling hub of commerce.

The renowned spire showcased four dragons with their tails intricately twisted into a spear and three crowns, representing the strong connections with neighbouring Norway and Sweden.

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