'This is our Notre-Dame': Copenhagen's 17th-century stock exchange building engulfed by fire

A fire broke out at Copenhagen’s old stock exchange, one of the most famous buildings, on Tuesday (April 16).The fire engulfed its spire, which collapsed onto the roof.

Noinjuries have been reported in the incident.It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze.

Videos spread acrosslocal media platforms showed people moving out with large and historic paintings from the building built in 1615, to save them from the flames.

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The moment the iconic twisting dragon spire of the historical Børsen Stock Exchange building in Copenhagen collapsed. It was constructed in 1625.pic.twitter.com/UffSBvyFS0 — Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) April 16, 2024

The historic building is no longer the house of the Danish stock exchange but serves as headquarters for the Danish Chamber of Commerce.

"Horrible pictures from the Bourse. So sad. An iconic building that means a lot to all of us ... Our own Notre-Dame moment," Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen wrote on X.

The historic building, whose spire was shaped like the tails of four dragons intertwined, had been under renovation when the fire broke out.

“We are met by a terrible sight. The Bourse is on fire,” the Chamber of Commerce wrote on X.

According to Danish TV, local craftsman Henrik Grage described the day as tragic. "This is our Notre-Dame," while comparing it to the fire that engulfed the cathedral in the centre of Paris in 2019.

The Danish Chamber of Commerce, which has owned the building since 1857, has worked on restoring it to the style of Denmark's King Christian IV, who had the building constructed in the 17th century.

"400 years of Danish cultural heritage in flames," Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt wrote on X.

Copenhagen police asked people to avoid driving in the inner part of the city.

(With inputs from agencies)