Denmark: A fire has broken out at Copenhagen’s 17th-century former stock exchange, engulfing the building’s roof and toppling its spire.
The Danish Chamber of Commerce, which is located next to Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish parliament, stated on X that, “We are witnessing a terrible spectacle. The Bourse is on fire. Everyone is asked to stay away.”
The video footage that spread around reveals large clouds of black smoke growing from a Dutch Renaissance-style building that was undergoing renovation and was surrounded by scaffolding. The police barricaded the main road and part of the city centre.
Troels Lund Poulsen, the deputy prime minister, called the blaze ‘our own Notre Dame moment,’ referring to the devastating flare that engulfed the roof and spire of the medieval cathedral in Paris in April 2019, nearly five years ago to the day.
Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Denmark’s culture minister, noted in a post on X that, “400 years of Danish cultural heritage were in flames. It was touching to see Bourse staff, emergency services and passing Copenhageners collaborate to save art treasures.”
The Bourse was constructed between 1619 and 1640, by King Christian IV. It holds a 56-meter (184 feet) spire that resembles the tails of four entangled dragons. The building served as Denmark’s stock exchange until the 1970s. Recently, there was a commotion near the structure as people were seen moving pieces of art for protection.
According to reports, an annexe to the parliament was also evacuated. As a result, the police requested everyone to avoid driving in the city’s inner part. The cause of the Notre Dame fire, which occurred during renovations, is believed to be caused by either a cigarette butt or an electrical short circuit.
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