Børsen

Børsen stands on Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, beside the Danish Parliament at Christiansborg Palace. Built between 1619 and 1640 under Christian IV, it is a fine example of Dutch Renaissance architecture. The building once housed forty trading offices and a large upper hall. Its most striking feature was the dragon-shaped spire, four dragon tails twisted together to a height of 56 metres. The spire carried three crowns, representing Denmark, Norway and Sweden. A fire in April 2024 destroyed much of the roof and toppled the spire. The building’s history reflects Copenhagen’s rise as a trading centre in northern Europe. After completion, Christian IV sold it to a merchant, then reclaimed it when funds ran low. In 1745 Nicolai Eigtved restored the structure, and in 1855 Harald Conrad Stilling renovated the interior. From 1918 to 1974 it served as Denmark’s stock exchange. The 2024 blaze, started during renovation work, gutted half the building and claimed a two-tonne bust of the king. Firefighters saved hundreds of historic artworks, including paintings by Peder Severin Krøyer and Thomas Kluge. Visitors now see the scarred façades and the exposed wooden beams where the roof once stood. The surviving walls still show the Dutch Renaissance detailing around doors and windows. Inside, the grand trading hall has been cleared of debris, revealing the original floor plan. The rescued artworks are stored nearby in the parliament building and the National Archives. Plans call for rebuilding with handmade bricks and pine timbers, aiming to restore the dragon spire by 2029. Until then, the outline of the old exchange remains a powerful reminder of Copenhagen’s merchant past.