The old stock exchange building in downtown Copenhagen – one of the city's oldest structures, famous for its intricately intertwined dragon-tailed spire – partially collapsed in a Huge fire early Tuesday morning.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but images and videos from social networks show flames on the roof of the building and clouds of black smoke covering the city.
“It was terrible to see Borsen go up in flames,” Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Denmark's culture minister, said in an interview early Tuesday, using the Danish name for the building. “The building represents more than 400 years of Danish history. It is one of the last structures in the world in the Dutch Renaissance style, where trade was conducted throughout that period.”
Copenhagen police said on social media that they had evacuated several surrounding buildings and urged people to stay away from the area.
The Old Stock Exchange Building, a 17th-century structure that served as Denmark's financial center, is also home to a number of historical paintings and other artifacts. City officials rushed to remove valuables from the building after the fire broke out.
One of the larger works brought to safety was “From the Copenhagen Stock Exchange” by Peder Severin Kroyer. according to a local news agency. The work, painted in 1895 and depicting several important Danish financial figures, is more than 13 feet long. It took six people to get it to safety.
Mr Engel-Schmidt said the old stock exchange's artworks “tell us something about ourselves as a nation and a people”. He added that the building has been the scene of countless historical events and that it is deeply embedded in the Danish psyche.
“That's why there are many people standing on the streets with extremely sad faces,” he said. “It affected me too.”
Several other officials lamented the fire, including Jan Jorgensen, a member of Parliament for the Liberal Party, who called for the old stock exchange to be rebuilt. “Probably the most iconic building in Copenhagen,” he said on social media. “All forces must unite so that this beautiful, ancient house can be rebuilt in all its strength and splendor.”
The building was built under the instructions of King Christian IV, who recognized the importance of trade and commerce, according to tourism website Visit Copenhagen. The original structure had at least 40 market stalls and was surrounded on three sides by water to make it easier for boats to unload their goods.
As firefighters battled the blaze Tuesday, dozens of onlookers stood quietly in the street, watching in shock, including Celeste Bolvinkil Andersen, who said she woke up when she heard her roommate screaming about the fire.
“It feels like being a direct witness to history,” she said. “I can't help but sit here, extremely disappointed in myself for not going inside and seeing Borsen from the inside. And now it's completely gone.”
Maya Tekeli contributed reporting.
