Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen visited the historical area around Børsen in Copenhagen on Friday afternoon, where a large fire had ravaged on Tuesday afternoon, leaving only just under half of the iconic building intact. During her visit, Frederiksen reported that an impressive 99 percent of the art in the building had been saved from the flames. The fire, which broke out earlier in the week, has attracted great attention, and the reconstruction of Børsen was a central topic during the Prime Minister’s visit.
“It is wonderful that the Danish Chamber of Commerce (Dansk Erhverv) from the very beginning has stated that Børsen will of course be rebuilt,” said Frederiksen, adding that she was particularly moved when the spire of the building collapsed during the fire. Danish Chamber of Commerce, which owns the Børsen building, has confirmed that they are planning a full reconstruction. Brian Mikkelsen, CEO of Danish Chamber of Commerce, stated that there has been great support from the government, but it is still too early to discuss the financial aspects of the reconstruction.
When asked about the government’s potential financial contribution to the reconstruction, Frederiksen said that it is still too early to provide a concrete answer. “The most important thing is that we agree that Børsen should return,” she emphasized. The visit and subsequent statements from both the Prime Minister and Danish Chamber of Commerce send a strong signal of a prompt and ambitious reconstruction of one of Copenhagen’s most significant historical buildings.