Copenhagen - American Institute of Architects

Borsen
Date: 1619–1625
Client: The national government
Architects: Lorenz and Hans van Steenwinkel et al.
The Stock Exchange is one of Copenhagen’s most spectacular and
oldest buildings. Christian IV had it built in 1620, in an effort to turn
Copenhagen into a financial centre to compete with Amsterdam. The
Stock Exchange was built on top of water, on filled-in foundations.
Because canals surrounded it on three sides, the building has managed
to survive the various fires that have ravaged Copenhagen through the
years. The Stock Exchange was originally built to be a meeting place
for Danish and foreign merchants. It was filled with shops, and the first
floor was converted into a warehouse where you could buy everything
from books to grains. The long building is magnificently decorated with
dormer windows, but the most characteristic thing about the Stock
Exchange is the spire. Four dragons with their tails intertwined form
the spire and topped by three golden crowns that symbolize the three
Nordic countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In the nineteenth
century, the building was converted into a modern stock exchange.
Today, the stock exchange operations have moved to Nicolaj Plads
square, but the Copenhagen Chamber of Commerce still uses the big
hall for meetings.
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CEES VAN ROEDEN