Spire collapses on one of Europe’s most iconic buildings after huge fire
One of Europe’s most iconic buildings is collapsing after being engulfed in flames in the early hours of this morning.
The Old Stock Exchange – referred to as the Notre Dame of Denmark – is on fire.
Footage shows the historic building Børsen in Copenhagen burning.
Its distinctive 56-metre spire, shaped as the tails of four dragons twined together, is seen engulfed in flames moments before its collapse.
Plumes of grey smoke are filling the sky above the Danish capital as people who were on their way to work gathered at the scene, watching in disbelief as one of their top tourist attractions burns.
The inferno, just moments away from government buildings, can be spotted from miles away in Copenhagen.
Emergency services arrived at the scene and urgent work is underway to rescue all the famous artwork stored at the Old Stock Exchange.
Authorities are seen carrying out multiple paintings – one by one – as the inferno rages. Passers-by also rushed in to help retrieve whatever they can.
Danish culture minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, tweeted: ‘Terrible pictures from the Stock Exchange this morning. 400 years of Danish cultural heritage in flames.’
King Frederik wrote on Instagram that he ‘woke up to a sad sight’ of ‘an important part of our architectural heritage’ being destroyed by the flames.
Prime minister Mette Frederiksen wrote that ‘irreplaceable cultural heritage’ and ‘a piece of Danish history is on fire’. ‘It hurts to see,’ he added.
Employers’ association Dansk Erhverv, which are based in the Børsen, said: ‘We are faced with a terrible sight.
‘The stock market is on fire. Everyone is asked to stay away from the area around Slotsholmen. The fire authorities are on the scene.’
Police have blocked multiple roads in central Copenhagen and people are being urged to avoid the scene.
Firefighters are continuing to fight the inferno, but there are fears it could spread.
What is the Børsen, Copenhagen's stock exhange?
Børsen, or ‘the Exchange’ in Danish, is nearly 400 years old, making it one of the oldest buildings in Copenhagen.
Over the years, it has been used as a marketplace, commodity exchange hall and currently the Danish Chamber of Commerce office.
Construction started in 1619 on the orders of King Christian IV and was largely completed about five years later – its now iconic spire was installed in 1625.
With four dragon tails twisting around it, the ‘Dragespir’ is topped by three crowns symbolising the Scandinavian empire – Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
According to local legend, the dragons have guarded the Børsen against enemy fire.
Even when fights and fires broke out elsewhere, such as a fire engulfing the Proviantgaarden in 1990, the hall was seemingly always spared.
Home to priceless paintings, such as Peder Krøyer’s From the Copenhagen Stock Exchange (Study) which was saved from today’s blaze, it’s been largely closed to the public.
Only those with invites to galas, conferences and parties or the odd guided tour have been lucky enough to go inside.
The finance ministry, and residencies are being evacuated as a result.
Police said on X: ‘We are now in the process of evacuating the buildings from the Ministry of Finance and down towards the water. Work continues to reroute the traffic around Slotsholmen.’
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but Jakob Vedsted Andersen, director of emergencies at Hovedstadens Beredskab, said that Børsen is a construction that makes extinguishing work very difficult.
He told TV2: ‘It is an old building, there are a lot of wooden structures, and we have a copper roof that keeps the heat in, so it is a very, very extensive effort that will last most of the day today.’
Andersen added that flames spread from the basement to the attic in the center of the building.
Ambulances are also at the scene but there were no reports of casualties.
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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