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Four hundred years of cultural heritage went up in flames. The historic building of the Old Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, dating back to 1625, was completely destroyed today, following a massive fire whose causes have not yet been clarified.
The historic Børsen from the 17th century, one of Copenhagen’s oldest iconic buildings, was engulfed in flames, resulting in the collapse of its iconic spire, standing at 56 meters tall, formed by the tails of four dragons.
#WATCH: Denmark’s historic stock exchange erupted into flames after a fire broke out during renovations in Copenhagen todayhttps://t.co/crl2CoagtD via @DailyMailAU #Børsen #emergency pic.twitter.com/ty428mjoDl
— Video Forensics (@Video_Forensics) April 16, 2024
So far, there are no reports of injuries.
The roof of the building collapsed, while videos from local media showed people removing large paintings to protect them from the flames, as reported by international news agencies.
DENMARK: One of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings was on fire and its spire has collapsed. The fire was first reported at 7:30am on Tuesday in the copper roof of the 17th-century Boersen, or Old Stock Exchange, Euro News reported.
Credit: Disclosetv pic.twitter.com/SOackBNjbG
— Apex World News (@apexworldnews) April 16, 2024
Everyone inside the building managed to evacuate safely, and the employees rushed to rescue some of the historic paintings.
The iconic building is located within a stone’s throw from the Danish parliament and the royal palace, as stated by Denmark’s Minister of Culture, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, emphasizing that it is a tragic day in the country’s history.
A fire broke out at Denmark’s Old Stock Exchange in Copenhagen on Tuesday, April 16, causing the 17th-century building’s well-known spire to collapse. Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said on X that “400 years of Danish cultural heritage [are] in flames.” pic.twitter.com/4OSUVb3ynI
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 16, 2024
The building, which no longer houses the stock exchange of Denmark and serves as the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce, was undergoing renovation work and was covered in scaffolding when the fire broke out.
“We were expecting a terrible sight. The Stock Exchange is burning,” tweeted the Chamber of Commerce, which was housed in the building.
PM Mitsotakis announces today from the Our Ocean Conference the Island Decarbonization Fund
BREAKING: *Notre-Dame moment* Massive fire rages through the 17th-century old Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, Denmark and its spire has collapsed. pic.twitter.com/YlovTo2lsV
— Anees Malik (@AneesMa49480534) April 16, 2024
Local artisan Henrik Graetz told state television that it was a tragic day. “This is our own Notre Dame,” he said, comparing it to the fire that devastated the roof and spire of the cathedral in the center of Paris in 2019.
The old Stock Exchange was often used for festive or cultural events but was not open to the public.
The oldest in the world – the 400-year-old Bersen stock exchange in the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen – is on fire, writes Reuters pic.twitter.com/Fk0h7k9lqf
— War_Watcher 🇺🇦🇬🇧 (@war_crimes_uk) April 16, 2024
The Copenhagen police announced the evacuation of buildings on the street where the Old Stock Exchange is located, including the Ministry of Finance, while the wider area was indefinitely sealed off.
The building in Dutch Renaissance style on Slotsholmen Island in the city, also known as the Palace Island, was commissioned by King Christian IV of Denmark with the aim of transforming Copenhagen into a significant commercial center.
Its spire depicted four dragons, each with a spear and three crowns, symbolizing the close ties with the neighboring countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
