The World Briefly

April 17, 2024

Dragon’s Breath

Denmark

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A fire tore through Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the structure’s iconic spire and severely damaging one of the Danish capital’s oldest buildings, the Associated Press reported.

Danish officials said the fire began Tuesday morning in the 17th-century building’s copper-covered roof and quickly spread to the rest of the structure, resulting in significant interior damage. Emergency services received help from volunteers and passersby in saving paintings, photos and other valuables housed in the building.

The fire led to the collapse of the building’s famous spire, crafted in the form of intertwining tails of four dragons and that reached a height of 184 feet.

Firefighters added that half of the historical structure was destroyed, but the blaze did not spread to other buildings. Meanwhile, police are still investigating the cause of the incident. There were no reports of casualties.

The Old Stock Exchange – also known as “Boersen” – served as the headquarters of the Danish Chamber of Commerce and was undergoing renovations before the incident.

Brian Mikkelsen, chief of the Chamber of Commerce, described the blaze as “a national disaster.” Other Danish leaders, including Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Danish King Frederik, expressed dismay at the loss of “an important part of our architectural heritage.”

It’s unclear what will happen to the historic building, which is located next to the Christiansborg Palace – where the parliament sits – and is a popular tourist attraction.

Fires raging in historical buildings are not new in Copenhagen.

The Christiansborg Palace has burned down on a few occasions throughout its history with the most recent incident in 1990, when a fire broke out in the annex of the Danish parliament.

This story originally appeared in the April 17, 2024 newsletter, The Cost of Allegiance.