The 17th Century Børsen is one of the city’s oldest buildings and onlookers gasped as its iconic spire collapsed in the flames.
Flames have torn through Copenhagen's beautiful and historic 17th-century Old Stock Exchange, causing the collapse of its spire.pic.twitter.com/KZriQVtg3b
Everyone inside the building was able to leave and people rushed to rescue some of its historic paintings.
Culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said 400 years of Danish cultural heritage had gone up in flames.
The building, dating back to 1625, is a stone’s throw from Denmark’s parliament, the Folketing, and the royal palace, Christiansborg. Danish media said the nearby square was being evacuated.
The old stock exchange was being renovated and had been shrouded in scaffolding and protective plastic covering. It currently houses the Danish chamber of commerce, which described the scenes on Tuesday morning as a terrible sight.
Here are some facts about the fire and the building, which is one of the Danish capital’s best-known landmarks.
WHAT IS COPENHAGEN’S OLD STOCK EXCHANGE?
The Dutch Renaissance style Old Stock Exchange, located on the waterfront next to Denmark’s parliament, was built on the orders of King Christian IV and opened in 1624 as a commodities trading place.
Following two big wars, the building was an attempt by the Danish king to develop trading in the capital.
WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
The building was originally home to market stalls. In the late 19th century, security trading began in the building, which housed the Copenhagen Stock Exchange until 1974.
It now serves as the headquarters and conference venue of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which has owned the since 1857.
WHAT WAS THE ICONIC TOWER?
The dragon-tailed spire that collapsed on Tuesday was one of the Danish capital’s best known landmarks. It has been seen as symbolically protecting the exchange from enemies as well as from fire, the Chamber said on its website.
When the building was nearly finished in 1623, King Christian IV was not satisfied with its warehouse-like appearance. He ordered a new roof and a spire that was designed by his own firework master.
WHAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY?
Flames and thick grey smoke rose from the building on Tuesday morning.
It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze. The building was undergoing extensive restoration ahead of its 400th anniversary to bring it back to its original Renaissance style.
Scaffolding around the building made it harder for emergency services to get through to the flames, while the copper roof was preserving the heat.
