Following the tragic fire that ravaged the Børsen in Copenhagen, there is now hope for an ambitious rebuilding with support from several major Danish foundations. Just like with the reconstruction of Notre Dame in Paris, it appears that the foundations will play a central role in bringing back the iconic Danish building to its former glory. The Børsen, which serves as the home for the Danish Chamber of Commerce, suffered extensive damage when a fire broke out on April 16, the day after the fifth anniversary of the Notre Dame fire. The iconic dragon spire and large parts of the building were destroyed. But similar to Notre Dame, where foundations significantly contributed to the restoration, it seems that a similar model could be applied in Copenhagen.
CBS professor Anker Brink Lund, author of “Danish Foundation History,” believes that Danish foundations can draw inspiration from their French counterparts. “Although the world of foundations in France and Denmark is not directly comparable, the French model can serve as a role model in this situation,” he says. Lund highlights that there is a broad willingness among Danish foundations to support the rebuilding. Specifically, he mentions the A.P. Møller and Wife Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation for General Purposes and Realdania as potential key players in a consortium that could lead the reconstruction efforts. “These foundations not only have the capacity to contribute significantly, but also a historical interest in preserving and enriching the Copenhagen urban environment,” Lund explains.
Although both the A.P. Møller Foundation and Realdania have been reluctant to comment specifically on their involvement, they emphasize the importance of Børsen as an architectural landmark and cultural institution. Realdania’s philanthropy director, Nina Kovsted Helk, has commented that there is a lot of work ahead to clarify the future of Børsen, and the foundation is closely monitoring the developments. Danish Chamber of Commerce’s CEO, Brian Mikkelsen, stated on the day of the fire that Børsen will be rebuilt “no matter what.” There has also been political support expressed for a swift and complete reconstruction. With such strong backing from both the public and private foundations, the future of Børsen looks brighter, even in the aftermath of such a devastating event. It is evidence of society’s ability to come together and rebuild what has been lost – not only as physical structures but also as symbols of cultural and economic vitality.