Â鶹APP

In the aftermath of a devastating fire that engulfed Copenhagen’s historic Old Stock Exchange last week, signs of recovery are starting to emerge.

On Monday, traffic resumed near the 400-year-old landmark as the busy Knippel Bridge reopened, and police were granted access to the ruins to conduct their investigations.

Firefighters, who have been tirelessly working to extinguish the blaze, have scaled down their presence at the site. However, some remain on standby to tackle any potential flare-ups or deal with collapsing walls. Jakob Vedsted Andersen, head of the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department, stated that while the cause of the fire remains unknown, police have begun inspecting the wreckage after firefighters stabilized the area.

The fire, which broke out on Tuesday, destroyed more than half of the building that was undergoing renovation.

The green copper roof and the iconic dragon-tail spire were reduced to ashes. Fortunately, the most valuable paintings and items inside the building were saved from the flames, and no injuries were reported.

See also

Business, Travel

Amsterdam Restaurants Shine in Europe’s Top 50 Burgers Ranking

Over the weekend, curious onlookers flocked to the site to witness the aftermath of the fire. The recovery process faced a setback on Thursday when a large section of the outer wall collapsed inward. The following day, firefighters used giant shears on a crane to remove dangling scaffolding, but the shear attachment fell into the ruins, causing further damage. It was later retrieved.

The Danish Chamber of Commerce, which owns the building dating back to 1615 and had its headquarters there, has pledged to rebuild the Old Stock Exchange. However, the question of who will finance the reconstruction, estimated to cost millions or even billions of kroner (dollars) and take years to complete, remains unanswered.

The Old Stock Exchange, situated on the waterfront next to the Danish parliament, is considered a prime example of Dutch Renaissance architecture in Denmark.

The Chamber of Commerce moved into the building after the Copenhagen Stock Exchange relocated in 1974. As the iconic landmark begins its journey to recovery, the people of Copenhagen remain hopeful that this cherished piece of its history will be restored to its former glory.