The historic building of the former Copenhagen Stock Exchange, dating from the 17th century, caught fire on Tuesday April 16, notably causing the collapse of its emblematic spire. The Danish rescue services are on site. Fire trucks surround the building, which now houses the Danish Chamber of Commerce – called Dansk Erhverv – near Parliament.
“Because of a fire at the Stock Exchange, we are massively present in the center of Copenhagen,” explained the capital’s police on the social network X, specifying that they had blocked parts of the city to traffic.
The fire broke out early in the morning under the roof, the emergency services told the press. “It’s a copper roof, and it’s simply impossible to get in,” rescue services director Jakob Vedsted Andersen told the Ritzau agency, adding that “so the fire had plenty of time to intensify and spread throughout the building”.
“We are facing a terrible spectacle,” responded the Danish Chamber of Commerce. “The stock market is on fire. Everyone is asked to stay away from the area around Slotsholmen. » “We are deeply touched. We are still saving everything that can be saved,” added its director, Morten Langager.
Commissioned by King Christian IV, the Copenhagen Stock Exchange was built between 1619 and 1640, making it one of the oldest buildings in the city. It was also being renovated to celebrate its four centuries of existence.
