There was shock as the 17th Century building's spire collapsed in the fire.

Denmark’s historic old stock exchange building in the centre of Copenhagen has been engulfed by fire.

The 17th Century Børsen is one of the city’s oldest buildings and onlookers gasped as its iconic spire collapsed in the flames.

Everyone inside the building was able to leave and people rushed to rescue some of its historic paintings.

Culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said 400 years of Danish cultural heritage had gone up in flames.

The building, dating back to 1625, is a stone’s throw from Denmark’s parliament, the Folketing, housed in the old royal palace of Christiansborg castle. Danish media said the nearby square was being evacuated.

    • @[email protected]English
      15•7 months ago

      Looks like they’ve updated OP’s article to mention Notre Dame and draw parallels as well.

      One of the craftsmen replacing brickwork on the building saw the fire break out on the roof while he was on the scaffolding.

      Fire department chief Jakob Vedsted Andersen said firefighters faced an almost impossible task accessing the area under the old copper roof.