This Historic Danish Landmark Was Just Destroyed By A Massive Blaze

Fire can be among the most destructive forces on Earth, and its devastation can be multiplied when an iconic piece of history is burned to the ground. That’s exactly what happened in the capital city of Denmark this week when a fire broke out in one of the oldest structures in Copenhagen.

“Irreplaceable cultural heritage”

The blaze struck the Old Stock Exchange building, which had been standing since the 1600s and was recognizable by, among other things, its 184-foot-tall spire. According to early reports, the dragon-tail feature collapsed as the blaze moved through the brick building.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded to the news in a social media post lamenting the destruction of “irreplaceable cultural heritage” and declaring: “A piece of Danish history is on fire.”

In total, about half of the building is believed to have been completely destroyed by the blaze, which started on its green copper roof where renovations were underway. As of the latest updates available, officials said there was no confirmation regarding the cause or source of the fire.

Looking for the silver lining

Fortunately, there were no injuries reported and local officials credited the quick work of first responders as well as quick-thinking locals in the ability to at least save some of this historic building and artifacts contained inside it.

According to Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, the “touching” display of civic responsibility included multiple individuals pitching in “to save art treasures and iconic images from the burning building.”

Chamber of Commerce head Brian Mikkelsen acknowledged that the destructive fire represented a “national disaster,” but also sought to highlight the positive.

“We have been able to rescue a lot,” he said.

Nevertheless, King Frederik spoke for Danes far and wide when he remarked: “This morning we woke up to a sad sight.”

Chris Agee April 17th, 2024

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