Børsen

Børsen
Børsen in 2016
Map
General information
StatusDamaged by fire
Architectural styleDutch renaissance
Town or cityCopenhagen
CountryDenmark
Coordinates55°40′32″N 12°35′2″E / 55.67556°N 12.58389°E / 55.67556; 12.58389
Construction started1619
Completed1640
Renovated1745
1855
ClientChristian IV
OwnerDanish Chamber of Commerce
Design and construction
Architect(s)Lorenz van Steenwinckel and Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger
Renovating team
Architect(s)Nicolai Eigtved (1745)
Harald Conrad Stilling (1855)

Børsen (Danish for "the bourse"), also known as Børsbygningen ("the bourse building"), is a 17th-century stock exchange in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. The historic building is situated next to Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish Parliament, on the island of Slotsholmen.

Built under the reign of Christian IV in 1619–1640, the building is considered a leading example of the Dutch Renaissance style in Denmark. It is a protected building for conservation purposes.[1] A popular tourist attraction, Børsen was most noted for its distinctive spire, shaped as the tails of four dragons twined together, reaching a height of 56 m (184 ft). On 16 April 2024, the building was severely damaged by a fire, which toppled the spire.[2]

History

Børsen was planned by Christian IV as part of his plan to strengthen Copenhagen's role as a centre for trade and commerce in Northern Europe. A site on the north side of the embankment which connected Copenhagen to the new market town Christianshavn, which was planned on reclaimed land off the coast of Amager. The king charged Lorenz van Steenwinckel with the design of the new building, but Steenwinckel died shortly thereafter. The assignment was then passed on to his brother, Hans van Steenwinckel.[3]

The site first had to be prepared since the embankment had not yet stabilized. Construction of the building began in 1620 and was largely completed in 1624 with the exception of the spire (installed in 1625) and details of the east gable (completed in 1640).[4] The building contained 40 trading offices at the ground floor and one large room at the upper floor. The building was in use as a marketplace during the late 1620s.[3]

In 1647, Christian IV sold the building to the merchant Jacob Madsen for 50,000 Danish rigsdaler.[5] Frederick III later reacquired the building from Madsen's widow, who could no longer afford to maintain the building.[3]

The building was restored by Nicolai Eigtved in 1745.[6]

19th and 20th centuries

Børsen seen with Højbro bridge in the foreground, 19th century

The interior of the building was renovated in 1855, and the interior was renovated by architect Harald Conrad Stilling.[7] In 1857, Frederick VII sold the building to Grosserer-Societetet[4] for 70,000 rigsdaler.[5]

The building housed the Danish stock-market until 1974. In 1918, unemployed anarchists attacked Børsen, an attack that went into the Danish history books as stormen på Børsen (Storm on the Stock Exchange).[8]

21st century

As of 2024, the building served as the headquarters of the Danish Chamber of Commerce (Dansk Erhverv).[9]

2024 fire

Børsen on 18 June 2022 (top), and Børsen on 16 April 2024 (bottom), view from Slotsholmskanalen [da] side

On 16 April 2024, a fire during renovation work in the main building's copper roof destroyed about half of the building and resulted in the collapse of its iconic Dragespir ("Dragon Spire").[10] There were no casualties.[11] Børsen survived several earlier fires that occurred nearby. Christiansborg burned down several times, the neighbouring building Privatbanken has been on fire, and the same has happened to Proviantgården in Slotsholmsgade in 1992. The scaffolding around the building also caught fire, making it harder for firefighters to reach the flames,[12] while the copper roof contained the heat.[13] Military personnel were also on site to support firefighting efforts. Additional machinery was deployed to help remove the roof, as it was preventing water from reaching the fire.[12] The facades were in danger of collapsing while the fire burned,[13] as the building is mostly made of wood.[14] It eventually collapsed on 18 April.[15]

"Several hundred" historic artworks from the building's substantial collection,[16][17] as well as historic furniture,[12] were rescued from the burning building by staff, emergency workers, and passers-by.[18] Among them were the paintings From Copenhagen Stock Exchange by Skagen Painter Peder Severin Krøyer and Det danske handelskammer komite og adm. direktør 1995 by Thomas Kluge [da].[19][20] The nearby National Museum immediately sent 25 employees to help retrieve the art.[13]

Brian Mikkelsen, CEO of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which owns the building, said that it would be rebuilt "no matter what".[21][22] Denmark's Deputy Prime Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, called the fire "our own Notre Dame moment". The fire occurred five years and a day after the Notre-Dame fire in Paris, another renovation fire which also destroyed the building's roof and spire.[12] King Frederik X released a statement, saying the fire was "a sad sight ... For 400 years, Christian IV's edifice Børsen has been a distinctive landmark of Copenhagen."[23]

Architecture

View from the dragon spire of Børsen towards Christiansborg

Børsen was constructed by the architects Lorenz van Steenwinckel and Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger. It is approximately 128 m (420 ft) long and 21 m (69 ft) wide.[24]

The building was known for its twisted "Dragon Spire," which was from 1625[25] and was designed as four intertwining dragon tails. The spire had three crowns atop, symbolizing the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. In 1775, a new spire was erected somewhat similar to the old one because there was a risk of it collapsing. The dragons that made up the spire, designed by the fireworks master of Christian IV, were supposed to protect the building from enemies and fire.[4]

There have been some minor changes over time.[26]

  • Dragon spire
    Dragon spire
  • Børsen seen from the tower of Christiansborg
    Børsen seen from the tower of Christiansborg
  • Western end of Børsen
    Western end of Børsen
  • Entrance
    Entrance
  • Row of chairs in Børssalen
    Row of chairs in Børssalen
  • Børssalen
    Børssalen
  • Door
    Door
  • Office
    Office
  • View of Christiansborg from the tower
    View of Christiansborg from the tower

Featured artworks

P.S. Krøyer's large group portrait From Copenhagen Stock Exchange.

Børsen housed several artworks, including a large number of portraits, both individual portraits and group portraits, as well as Lorenz Frølich's four cartoons in charcoal drawing depicting four virtues: work, justice, courage, and love. But foremost was P. S. Krøyer's large group portrait From Copenhagen Stock Exchange and also a new version of the exchange painting by Thomas Kluge with the 13 committee members from the Chamber of Commerce.[27] Additionally, there was C. F. Høyer's painting Christian IV giver Tyge Brahe en guldkæde from 1810, a Marinebillede by Anton Melbye from 1863, Søstykker by Christian Mølsted from 1890, and Badende ved stranden by William Scharff from 1939.

During the April 2024 fire, a number of historic art pieces dating back centuries, including Peder Severin Krøyer’s 1895 group portrait were rescued by staff and members of the public. The artworks have been temporarily moved to the parliament building as well as the Danish National Archives.[28][29]

  • Statue of Neptune at the left side of the ramp
    Statue of Neptune at the left side of the ramp
  • Statue of Mercury at the right side of the ramp
    Statue of Mercury at the right side of the ramp
  • Paintings in a meeting room
    Paintings in a meeting room
  • Fireplace
    Fireplace
  • Fireplace
    Fireplace
  • Diligence
    Diligence
  • Wisdom
    Wisdom
  • Courage
    Courage
  • Justice
    Justice
  • Børsen painted by H. G. F. Holm, c. 1823
    Børsen painted by H. G. F. Holm, c. 1823

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sag: Børsen". Fredede og bevaringsværdige bygninger. Kulturstyrelsen. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  2. ^ "LIVE Brand i Børsen i København". DR (in Danish). 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "The History". Børsbygningen. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Børsbygningen.dk, ejet af Dansk Erhverv – The Danish Chamber of Commerce Archived 20 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine hentet 8. maj 2021
  5. ^ a b Green, Theodor (2019). Børsen i København. Lindhardt og Ringhof. ISBN 978-8726296501. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Hvor langt skal man spole tilbage?". www.arkitektforeningen.dk. Arkitektforeningen – Danish Association of Architects. 14 March 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  7. ^ G. F. Hetsch (1 January 1928). "To Breve fra Architekten, Professor G. F. Hetsch til Architekten H. C. Stilling [1815-1891]. Meddelt af Gustav Hetsch". Personalhistorisk Tidsskrift (in Danish): 4–13. ISSN 0300-3655. Wikidata Q107323506.
  8. ^ "Børsen, Stormen på (1918)" (in Danish). Leksikon.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Danish Chamber of Commerce". www.danskerhverv.dk. Danish Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Fire destroys Copenhagen's Old Stock Exchange dating to 1600s, collapsing its dragon-tail spire". Associated Press. 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  11. ^ Kirby, Paul (16 April 2024). "Historic Copenhagen stock exchange in Denmark goes up in flames". BBC News. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d Halasz, Stephanie; Mortensen, Antonia; Said-Moorhouse, Lauren (16 April 2024). "Spire collapses after fire rips through Copenhagen's old stock exchange". CNN. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Brady, Kate (16 April 2024). "Fire consumes Copenhagen's 400-year-old stock market building". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  14. ^ Milne, Richard (16 April 2024). "Denmark's historic stock exchange goes up in flames". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Historic Copenhagen building smolders for third day as facade collapses". France 24. 18 April 2024. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  16. ^ Kirby, Paul (16 April 2024). "Historic Copenhagen stock exchange in Denmark goes up in flames". BBC. BBC News. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Denmark's 'Notre Dame moment': passers-by rescue paintings from blazing Boersen building in Copenhagen". The Art Newspaper. 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Copenhagen's historic stock exchange in flames". 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024 – via www.bbc.com.
  19. ^ "Særligt maleri reddet ud af brændende Børsen". TV2 ØST (in Danish). 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Historisk P.S. Krøyer-maleri reddes ud fra brændende Børsen". TV 2 (Denmark) (in Danish). TV 2 (Denmark). 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  21. ^ Milne, Richard (16 April 2024). "Denmark's historic stock exchange goes up in flames". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  22. ^ Pelham, Lipika (17 April 2024). "Copenhagen vows to rebuild fire-hit stock exchange". BBC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Announcement from HM The King". kongehuset.dk/en. The Royal House. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  24. ^ Slots- og Kulturstyrelsens register over Fredede og Bevaringsværdige Bygninger i Danmark (12 December 2019). "Børsen, København". lex.dk (in Danish). Trap Danmark. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Børsen". Dansk Erhverv (in Danish). Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Børsbygningen.dk, owned by Dansk Erhverv - The Danish Chamber of Commerce". Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  27. ^ "Historisk P.S. Krøyer-maleri reddes ud fra brændende Børsen". TV 2 (Denmark) (in Danish). TV 2 (Denmark). 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Artnet". April 2024.
  29. ^ "The Art Newspaper". 16 April 2024.

External links

  • Media related to Børsen at Wikimedia Commons
  • Media related to Børsen fire at Wikimedia Commons
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