Spire Collapses as One of Copenhagen's Oldest Buildings Burns

Copenhagen’s Børsbygningen (Old Stock Exchange), a historic 17th-century building in the in the Dutch Renaissance style was engulfed in flames on Tuesday morning, its famous spire shrouded in scaffolding and consumed in fire in scenes redolent of the near-destruction of Paris’s Notre Dame near exactly five years ago.

Staff, emergency workers, and even passers-by rushed into the Old Stock Exchange building in the Danish capital on Tuesday to rescue a number of large historic paintings as the building burnt. According to Danish newspaper of record Berlingske police believe all inside the building were able to evacuate in time and there are no known casualties, but the smoke is toxic and anyone suffering breathing difficulties should go to hospital.

The fire is still burning and a series of bangs have been heard from inside the blaze. The smoke can be seen from the neighbouring country of Sweden.

Plumes of smoke billow from the historic Boersen stock exchange building which is on fire in central Copenhagen, Denmark on April 16, 2024. The building, one of the oldest in the Danish capital, was undergoing renovation work when in the morning it caught fire, whose cause was yet unknown. The building was erected in the 1620s as a commercial building by King Christian IV and is located next to the Danish parliament. (Photo by Emil Helms / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT (Photo by EMIL HELMS/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

People salvage a painting from the historic Boersen stock exchange building which is on fire in central Copenhagen, Denmark on April 16, 2024. (Photo by IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

People carry paintings out of the historic Boersen stock exchange building as it is on fire in central Copenhagen, Denmark on April 16, 2024. The building, one of the oldest in the Danish capital, was undergoing renovation work when in the morning it caught fire, whose cause was yet unknown. The building was erected in the 1620s as a commercial building by King Christian IV and is located next to the Danish parliament. (Photo by Ida Marie Odgaard / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT (Photo by IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

Firefighters spray water to extinguish a fire that broke out in the Copenhagen’s Stock Exchange building (Photo by IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

A man reacts while the historic Boersen building is on fire (Photo by IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

The 1625 hall, built in the era of Christian IV of Denmark, is one of the oldest in Copenhagen and its distinctive dragon spire was a well known landmark of the capital, known for being a “city of towers”. The hall is surrounded by scaffolding as it, at the time of the fire, was undergoing renovation work. While the cause of the fire is not yet known, renovations are well known in the industry to be an extremely vulnerable time for historic buildings.

Passers-by looked on as the spire burnt and collapsed in scenes reminiscent of the burning of Notre Dame almost precisely five years ago to the day, on April 15th 2019. The cause of the Notre Dame fire has still not been conclusively determined but a discarded cigarette or an electrical fire were suggested by investigators. Noting this unfortunate anniversary, the BBC cites Copenhagen craftsman Henrik Grage who said of today’s blaze: “This is our Notre Dame”.

Deputy Prime Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said: “Terrible pictures from the Stock Exchange. So sad. An iconic building that means a lot to all of us, I think. Our own Notre Dame moment.”

The fire brigade said the fire had spread to all parts of the building and it wasn’t clear if the stone and brick outer walls would survive.

Conservative politician Marcus Knuth told Berlingske that the building should be rebuilt as it was, even if a replica “of course” could never quite match the original.

Striking images from the scene of the fire showed large works of art being carried out of the building. Some of the works, if originals, present as historic styles that may be several hundred years old. While much may have been saved, officials say much more has likely been lost.

The director of the Danish Chamber of Commerce which occupies the building, and who personally helped efforts to rescue works of art said the fire is “incredibly tragic… the most tragic day of my life” to see centuries of history going up in smoke. Describing the last-minute dash to get paintings that were securely fastened to the walls down, he said: “We stood and heaved and toiled in there with crowbars… We have saved a lot, a lot, but not everything”.

Plumes of smoke billow from the historic Boersen stock exchange building (Photo by IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

The tower of the historic Boersen stock exchange stands in flames (Photo by IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

Firefighters work at the main entrance of the historic Boersen stock exchange building (Photo by IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

A firefighter tries to extinguish the flames at the historic Boersen stock exchange building which is on fire in central Copenhagen, Denmark on April 16, 2024. The building, one of the oldest in the Danish capital, was undergoing renovation work when in the morning of April 16, 2024 it caught fire, whose cause was yet unknown. The restoration of the building, which has served as an office building, included a new copper roof, replacement of the facade’s bricks, and restoration of the building’s sandstone decorations. The renovation was expected to be completed in the fall of 2024 in connection with the celebration of Boersen’s 400-year anniversary. (Photo by Emil Helms / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT (Photo by EMIL HELMS/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

Before: a selection of images of the building before today’s devastating fire

Interior of the Stock Exchange Hall. Until the 1970s this is where the trading took place. From then and until todays fire, it had been used to host weddings and conferences. / Released by the Royal Library, Denmark

Borsen Building Sunset Twilight. The old 17th century Stock Exchange Building Børsen (Borsen) next to a downtown canal in Copenhagen under moody sunset twilight. Illuminated cars and tourbuses driving along the canal street. Sunset Twilight over Copenhagen. Copenhagen, Denmark, Nordic Countries, Europe

The old stock exchange – Børsen – in Copenhagen was build in dutch renaissance style by king Christian 4 between 1618 and 1624. Today it is owned by the Danish Chamber of Commerce (and is actually for sale).

Some pictures taken during the renovations, showing the skilled use of copper sheets to form roof planes, valleys, and flashings to shed water and protect the timber structure of the roof. The appearance of rainbow-like bands of colour on the raw copper shows where high heat has been used to anneal, solder, and bond panels.

Picture taken on April 15, 2024 shows renovation work on the historic Boersen stock exchange building in Copenhagen, Denmark. The building, one of the oldest in the Danish capital, was undergoing renovation work when in the morning of April 16, 2024 it caught fire, whose cause was yet unknown. The restoration of the building, which has served as an office building, included a new copper roof, replacement of the facade’s bricks, and restoration of the building’s sandstone decorations. The renovation was expected to be completed in the fall of 2024 in connection with the celebration of Boersen’s 400-year anniversary. (Photo by Ida Marie Odgaard / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT (Photo by IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

Historic Artworks Rushed Into Streets as One of Copenhagen’s Oldest Buildings Burns

Before: a selection of images of the building before today’s devastating fire

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