The iconic Borsen building, situated on the island of Slotsholmen near Christiansborg Castle in central Copenhagen, was engulfed in flames on Tuesday morning. As thick orange flames raged through the historic Stock Exchange, which now houses the Chamber of Commerce, smoke billowed into the sky. Despite police efforts to control the fire, it quickly spread and caused significant damage to the building’s 54-meter high spiral spire.
The collapse of the spire was reminiscent of the Notre-Dame de Paris tragedy and prompted Danish authorities to launch an investigation into the cause of the fire. Several people were seen entering the building to salvage large paintings while others were evacuated from nearby areas, including an annex of Parliament.
The Danish Chamber of Commerce expressed its sorrow over the loss and urged people to stay away from the area. The Minister of Culture also mourned the destruction of 400 years of Danish cultural heritage. Meanwhile, Denmark’s embassy in France voiced its concern for its own cultural heritage and compared it to a Notre-Dame tragedy.
Despite various fires affecting nearby buildings over the years, Borsen had until now managed to escape major damage. No longer used for stock market activities since the 1970s, Borsen had become a popular venue for gala dinners and events but was not open to the public. The loss of this historic building has left a significant impact on Copenhagen’s cityscape and its cultural heritage.
