On the fateful day of March 2nd, 1859, tragedy struck the heart of Copenhagen as a devastating fire broke out at the iconic Old Stock Exchange building. The flames quickly engulfed the historic structure, causing panic and chaos among onlookers. As the fire raged on, the towering spire of the building collapsed in a dramatic display of destruction.
The loss of such a significant piece of Denmark's architectural heritage left citizens in shock and mourning. The Old Stock Exchange had stood as a symbol of economic prosperity and cultural significance for centuries, its intricate design and grandeur attracting visitors from near and far.
The building, which is situated next to the Christiansborg Palace where the parliament sits, is a popular tourist attraction. Its distinctive spire, in the shape of the tails of four dragons twined together, reached a height of 56 meters (184 feet).
Huge billows of smoke rose over downtown Copenhagen and people were seen rushing inside the building to save paintings. Danish media reported that an annex of the parliament was being evacuated.
Jakob Engel-Schmidt said that the images he had seen of Boersen on fire were “terrible.”
“Terrible pictures from the Stock Exchange this morning. 400 years of Danish cultural heritage in flames,” he said. Credit: Albert Søgaard Thomsen via Storyful
The historic building, with a spire shaped like the tails of four dragons intertwined, had been undergoing renovations when the fire broke out.
The Dutch Renaissance-style building no longer houses the Danish stock exchange, but serves as the headquarters of the Danish Chamber of Commerce.
It's not immediately clear what caused the fire. 
Denmark home.
Police said on the social media site X that a main road in Copenhagen was closed and people should expect the area to be cordoned off for some time.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
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