Massive fire rages Copenhagen’s 17th-century Stock Exchange building, collapses famous spire

A huge fire on Tuesday devastated Copenhagen’s 17th century former stock exchange toppling the historic building’s landmark spire in front of horrified witnesses.

The 54-metre (180-foot) spire disappeared into flames at the Borsen building, which has been undergoing renovation, an AFP journalist saw.

The spire snapped and crashed down onto the street below. Dramatic photographs showed huge plumes of black smoke emerging from the building.

The Borsen building, commissioned by King Christian IV and built between 1619 and 1640, is one of Copenhagen’s best known landmarks.

“Terrifying images from Borsen this morning. 400 years of Danish cultural heritage going up in flames,” Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt wrote in a post to X, the former Twitter.

The images recalled the disaster at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, almost five years ago to the day when its spire was also destroyed by a fire.

“This is our Notre Dame, it is our national treasure,” said Elisabeth Moltke, a 45-year-old Copenhagen resident, who watched the blaze.  Others could not hold back tears as they watched the devastation.

Danish Culture Minister Jakon Engel-Schmidt said it was “touching” to see how passers-by helped emergency services “to save art treasures and iconic images from the burning building.”

Tilsyneladende almindelige mennesker haster ind for at redde malerier i #børsen pic.twitter.com/6mXhgbI1QL

— Mads Bisgaard (@MadsBis) April 16, 2024

The scaffolding enclosed the structure where police and firemen were working. Although there were ambulances on the site, no casualties were reported.

Constructed in 1615, the building houses the headquarters of the Danish Chamber of Commerce. One of the people assisting with the removal of artworks from the premises was Brian Mikkelsen, the head of the chamber.

The Finance Ministry is among the buildings on the street where Boersen is located that the police indicated needed to be evacuated. According to Danish media, there was also an order to evacuate the Danish parliament’s annexe, which is housed in the building behind the former Stock Exchange.

Police said on the social media site X that a main road in Copenhagen was closed and people should expect the area to be cordoned off for some time.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.