Børsen is Copenhagen's old stock exchange, a long Dutch Renaissance building of red brick and sandstone built for King Christian IV on Slotsholmen, next to Christiansborg Palace. For four centuries it was known for its spire of four dragons with their tails twisted together. On 16 April 2024 a fire during roof works destroyed about half of the building and brought the dragon spire down, and Børsen is now being rebuilt with 17th-century materials and methods.
Børsen at a glance
- Where: on Slotsholmen, along the canal between Christiansborg Palace and the Knippelsbro bridge to Christianshavn.
- Built: 1620–1624, with the spire added in 1625 and the east gable completed in 1640.
- By: designed by Lorenz van Steenwinckel and, after his death, his brother Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger, for Christian IV.
- What it is today: the property of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, under reconstruction after the 2024 fire; completion is expected around 2029, so check before you go.
- Time needed: 15 minutes to walk its length and look at the works.
A trading hall for a merchant king
Christian IV wanted Copenhagen to be a centre of northern European trade, and in 1619 he ordered a large exchange on the embankment that linked the city to his new town of Christianshavn. Construction began in 1620 and the building was in use as a marketplace by the late 1620s, with 40 trading booths on the ground floor and one large hall above. The king sold it in 1647 to the merchant Jacob Madsen, and it later returned to the crown. In 1857 Frederik VII sold it to the merchants' society that became today's Chamber of Commerce, and the Danish stock market was based here until 1974.
The building survived the fires that destroyed Christiansborg next door several times, until the morning of 16 April 2024. Flames broke out during renovation of the copper roof, the dragon spire collapsed, and parts of the north façade and west gable later fell. Staff, firefighters, soldiers and passers-by carried out hundreds of artworks, including P. S. Krøyer's large painting of the exchange, but a bronze bust of Christian IV was lost. King Frederik X laid a foundation stone for the rebuilding on 26 September 2024.
What you can see during the rebuild
- The sheer length of the building, about 128 metres along the canal, now largely wrapped in scaffolding and white covers while the works go on.
- The gap in the skyline where the 56-metre dragon spire stood, best felt from the Knippelsbro bridge or from Christianshavn across the water.
- The rebuilding itself: the plan uses handmade red bricks, Nordic pine and recycled copper, much as the original builders would have done.
- The spire to come: four dragons with entwined tails, topped by three crowns for Denmark, Norway and Sweden; its old tip was found in the ruins and is meant to go back on top.
- The new copper on the roof, which will be bright brown at first and may take decades to turn the familiar green.
Dragons against fire
The dragon spire was more than decoration. Its four dragons were designed by Christian IV's fireworks master and were meant to guard the building against enemies and fire, which is why many Danes found it so painful when the spire fell in flames. Denmark's deputy prime minister called the fire 'our own Notre-Dame moment', and it happened five years and one day after the fire at Notre-Dame in Paris. Like Notre-Dame, Børsen is being rebuilt as it was.
Tips for your visit
- For the best overview of the works, stand on the Knippelsbro bridge or walk along the quay on the Christianshavn side.
- Come by boat: canal tours pass along the side of Børsen and Christiansborg and give the low-level view.
- Keep expectations realistic: until the works end you will mostly see a building site, so plan Børsen as part of a walk round Slotsholmen.
- Combine it with Christiansborg Palace and Holmen's Church, both within a few minutes' walk.
Nearby
- Christiansborg Palace: home to the Danish parliament, with a tower you can climb for views over the city.
- Holmen's Church: just across the canal, a Christian IV-era naval church converted from an anchor forge in 1619.
- Thorvaldsen Museum: on Slotsholmen, a colourful building dedicated to the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.
- The Black Diamond: the modern extension of the Royal Library on the harbour front, a short walk south along the water.
See Copenhagen with World City Trail
Our Copenhagen scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 3 hours, with about 48 minutes of walking. It includes City Hall, Copenhagen Cathedral and the Round Tower.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Copenhagen.
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Facts checked in October 2026.