Built under the reign of Christian IV in 1619–1640, the building is considered a leading example of the Dutch Renaissance style in Denmark.

[1] A popular tourist attraction, Børsen is most noted for its distinctive spire, shaped as the tails of four dragons twined together, reaching a height of 56 m (184 ft).

A site on the north side of the embankment which connected Copenhagen to the new market town Christianshavn, which was planned on reclaimed land off the coast of Amager.

[5] On 11 February 1918, due to rising inequality, unemployed anarchists stormed Børsen, attacking stockbrokers.

The scaffolding around the building also caught fire, making it harder for firefighters to reach the flames,[12] while the copper roof contained the heat.

[18] Among them were the paintings From Copenhagen Stock Exchange by Skagen Painter Peder Severin Krøyer and Handelskammeret by Thomas Kluge.

[22][23] Denmark's Deputy Prime Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, called the fire "our own Notre Dame moment".

[12] King Frederik X released a statement, saying that the fire was "a sad sight [...] For 400 years, Christian IV's edifice, Børsen, has been a distinctive landmark of Copenhagen.

The dragons that made up the spire, designed by the fireworks master of Christian IV, were supposed to protect the building from enemies and fire.

During the April 2024 fire, a number of historic art pieces dating back centuries, including Peder Severin Krøyer's 1895 group portrait, were rescued by staff and members of the public.