The Old Stock Exchange building in central Copenhagen, one of the city’s oldest buildings known for its elaborate spire with intertwined dragon’s tails, partially collapsed in a fire early Tuesday.
It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, but images and videos on social media showed flames on the roofs of buildings and thick smoke hanging over the city.
“It was terrible to see the Bolsen building on fire,” Danish Culture Minister Jacob Engel-Schmidt said in an interview early Tuesday, using the building’s Danish name. “This building represents more than 400 years of Danish history. It is one of the last Dutch Renaissance-style buildings in the world, and trade was carried out here throughout the period.”
Copenhagen police said on social media that they had evacuated several surrounding buildings and urged people to avoid the area.
The old Stock Exchange Building is a 17th-century building that was once Denmark’s financial center and houses several historical paintings and other artifacts. City officials rescued the precious items from the building after the fire.
One of the larger works brought to safety was Peder Severin Kroyer’s From the Copenhagen Stock Exchange According to local news media. Painted in 1895, this work depicts several important Danish financial figures and is over 13 feet long. It took six people to move it to safety.
Mr Engel-Schmidt said the artwork at the Old Stock Exchange “tells us something about us as a country and as a people”. He added that the building was the backdrop for countless historical events and that it was deeply ingrained in the Danish psyche.
“That’s why there are people standing in the street looking very sad,” he said. “It affects me too.”
Several other officials expressed regret over the fire, including Liberal MP Jan Jorgensen, who called for the old stock exchange to be rebuilt. “Probably the most iconic building in Copenhagen,” he said on social media. “All forces must unite to restore this ancient and beautiful house to its full strength and splendor.”
The building was built under the guidance of King Christian IV, who recognized the importance of trade and commerce, According to the Visit Copenhagen tourism website. The original building contained at least 40 market stalls and was surrounded by water on three sides to help ships easily unload their goods.
As firefighters extinguished the blaze on Tuesday, dozens of bystanders stood silently in the street, watching in shock, including Celeste Bolvinkil Andersen, who said she was She woke up when she heard her roommate yelling about fire.
“It feels a little like being a first-hand witness to history,” she said. “I can’t help but sit here and feel deeply disappointed in myself that I didn’t go inside the Bolsen Museum. And now it’s completely gone.”
Maya Tekeli contributed reporting.
