Denmark’s Notre Dame moment: Historic stock exchange building catches fire

On April 16, Copenhagen’s historic stock exchange (known as the Old Stock Exchange or Børsen) was engulfed in fire.

This 17th-century building is a Danish national treasure and one of the oldest buildings in Denmark. It is the seat of the Danish Chamber of Commerce. The fire started in the early hours, burning through the copper roof and quickly spreading, causing the iconic spire to collapse. The spire is 184 feet tall and is famous for its unique design of four dragon tails, symbolizing protection against adversity and fire.

The fire caused severe damage to several floors of the monument and emergency crews, including around 90 Royal Life Guards, were sent to secure the area and protect the valuable asset. There were no reports of casualties and the Ministry of Finance was evacuated. The building dates back to 1625 and contains several priceless Danish art collections worth hundreds of millions of Danish kroner (tens of millions of dollars).

The cause of the fire remains unclear.