The previous inventory alternate constructing in downtown Copenhagen — one of many metropolis’s oldest buildings, identified for its elaborate spire of intertwined dragon tails — partly collapsed in a big hearth early Tuesday.
It was not instantly clear what prompted the fireplace, however pictures and video from social media confirmed flames on the construction’s roof and darkish clouds of smoke lingering over town.
“It’s completely dreadful to see Borsen in flames,” Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Denmark’s tradition minister, mentioned in an interview early Tuesday, utilizing the Danish title for the constructing. “The constructing represents over 400 years of Danish historical past. It’s one of many final buildings on the earth in Dutch Renaissance type, the place commerce has been performed all through the complete interval.”
The police in Copenhagen mentioned on social media that they’d evacuated a number of surrounding buildings, and urged folks to keep away from the world.
The previous inventory alternate constructing, a Seventeenth-century construction that was as soon as the monetary middle of Denmark, additionally housed a number of historic work and different artifacts. Metropolis officers rushed the valued items out of the constructing after the fireplace broke out.
One of many bigger works carried to security was Peder Severin Kroyer’s “From Copenhagen Inventory Alternate,” based on a neighborhood information outlet. The work, which was painted in 1895 and depicts a number of key Danish monetary figures, is greater than 13 ft lengthy. It took six folks to take away it to security.
Mr. Engel-Schmidt mentioned the previous inventory alternate’s artworks “inform us one thing about ourselves as a nation and as a folks.” He added that the constructing had been the backdrop of numerous historic occasions, and that it was ingrained within the Danish psyche.
“That’s why there are folks standing within the streets, wanting extremely unhappy,” he mentioned. “It impacts me, too.”
A number of different officers lamented the fireplace, together with Jan Jorgensen, a member of Parliament for the Liberal Celebration, who referred to as for the previous inventory alternate to be rebuilt. “Most likely essentially the most iconic constructing in Copenhagen,” he mentioned on social media. “All forces have to be united to have this previous, stunning home rebuilt in all its energy and splendor.”
The constructing was constructed on the route of King Christian IV, who had acknowledged the significance of commerce and commerce, based on the Go to Copenhagen tourism web site. The unique construction contained at the least 40 market stalls and was surrounded by water on three sides to assist ships simply unload their cargo.
As hearth crews fought the flames on Tuesday, dozens of onlookers quietly stood on the road, watching in shock, together with Celeste Bolvinkil Andersen, who mentioned she had woken up when she heard her roommate shouting concerning the hearth.
“It feels a bit like turning into a firsthand witness to historical past,” she mentioned. “I can’t assist however sit right here deeply, deeply disillusioned in myself, for not having gone inside and seen the Borsen from the within. And now it’s fully gone.”
Maya Tekeli contributed reporting.
