Early Tuesday morning saw Copenhagen’s historic former stock exchange, Børsen, engulfed in flames, ringing alarm bells across the city. Within moments, the 400-year-old structure suffered extensive damage, including the collapse of its iconic dragon-adorned spire.
Brian Mikkelsen, head of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which owns Børsen, has pledged to rebuild the landmark, echoing the resolve seen after the Notre-Dame fire in France in 2019. Danish officials are now eager to glean lessons from the swift restoration of Notre-Dame.
Amidst the chaos, acts of heroism emerged as emergency workers and volunteers rushed into the inferno multiple times to rescue centuries-old artworks housed within Børsen. Despite the loss of the famous dragon spire, the majority of historic items, save for a two-tonne bust of King Christian IV, were salvaged.
The public has shown solidarity, sharing memories and photos of Børsen on social media. Situated near the Danish parliament, the Renaissance-style building, constructed in 1625 by King Christian IV, stood as a symbol of Northern European trade with its distinctive red bricks and teal-green copper roof.
While Notre-Dame’s restoration is nearing completion after five and a half years, with plans for the immediate area to be redeveloped by 2028, Denmark faces its own journey of recovery and renewal in the wake of the Børsen fire.