The old Stock Exchange building in downtown Copenhagen, one of the city's oldest structures known for its elaborate spire intertwined with dragon's tails, was partially destroyed in a massive fire early Tuesday morning.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, but images and videos on social media showed flames burning on the roofs of buildings and plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky above the city.
“It's really scary to see Bolsen go up in flames,” Denmark's Culture Minister Jakob Engel Schmidt said in an interview early Tuesday morning, using the building's Danish name. “This building represents over 400 years of Denmark's history. It is one of the last buildings in the world in the Dutch Renaissance style and has been used for trade throughout its entire period.”
Copenhagen police announced on social media that several surrounding buildings had been evacuated and urged people to avoid the area.
Local emergency response agencies also urged people to stay away from fires and seek medical attention if they have trouble breathing from the smoke.
The Old Stock Exchange building is a 17th-century structure that was once Denmark's financial center and also housed several historical paintings and other artifacts. City authorities quickly removed valuables from the building after the fire broke out. At the time of the fire, the building was occupied by the Dansk Elverf business organization.
One of the large works that was safely transported was Peder Severin Kroyer's “From the Copenhagen Stock Exchange,” according to local news outlets. This work, painted in his 1895, depicts several of Denmark's major financial figures and exceeds his 13 feet in length. It took six people to remove it to a safe location.
Engelschmidt said the artwork at the Old Stock Exchange “tells us something about us as a nation and as a people.” He added that the building has been the backdrop for countless historical events and is deeply rooted in the Danes' psyche.
“That's why you have people standing on the streets looking incredibly sad,” he said. “It affects me too.”
Several other officials also lamented the fire, including opposition Freedom Party lawmaker Jan Jorgensen, who called for the reconstruction of the former stock exchange. “It's probably the most iconic building in Copenhagen.” he said on social media. “All forces must come together to rebuild this old and beautiful home to the best of its ability.”
According to tourism website Visit Copenhagen, the building was built at the direction of King Christian IV, who recognized the importance of trade and commerce. The original structure had at least 40 market stalls and was surrounded by water on three sides to make it easier for ships to unload their cargo.
As firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze on Tuesday, dozens of onlookers stood silently on the street and watched in shock, some of them screaming out of sight after hearing their roommate screaming about the fire. This included Celeste Bolvinkil Andersen, who said she had woken up.
“I feel like I'm a first-hand witness to history,” she said. “I can't help but sit here and be deeply disappointed in myself for not going inside and seeing Borsen from the inside. And now that's completely gone.”