Denmark to Open New Visitor Centre on the Rebuilding and History of Børsen

Thanks to major donations from six large foundations, people in Denmark will, over the next three years, have the opportunity to get up close to the rebuilding and restoration of Børsen, which was severely damaged by a tragic fire on 16 April 2024.

On Thursday 26 February at 12:00 noon, Minister for Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt and the Danish Chamber of Commerce will open a new visitor centre located directly on the Børsen construction site. From this unique front-row position, visitors will be able to follow the rebuilding and restoration process and explore 400 years of history surrounding Christian IV’s iconic Børsen building.

“It will be ambitious, engaging, and full of life. Through clear and accessible communication, we invite people to get very close to the history of Børsen – both what has happened in the past and what is happening right now. We are delighted that, with strong support and in collaboration with the six foundations, we can strengthen the communication about our built heritage, the craftsmanship involved, and the vision for the future of Børsen,” says Morten Langager, CEO of the Danish Chamber of Commerce.

The exhibition is housed in a visitor centre made up of 15 connected containers raised to first-floor level, offering a unique view over the construction site. A wide range of physical objects will be on display – from newly carved sandstone figures to 400-year-old lead balls. Visitors can also see new and historic copper, handmade bricks, large fire-damaged pine beams, and the first tree felled for use in the rebuilding.

The exhibition offers a highly tactile experience, giving visitors the opportunity to touch both new and historic materials and objects. The story of Denmark’s business history is presented through numerous images and highlights along a 60-metre-long timeline.

As construction progresses, the exhibition will evolve, allowing visitors to gain insight into how craftspeople, architects, and the client, the Danish Chamber of Commerce, are shaping the future of Børsen.

Free Admission for Visitors

The visitor centre will generally be open seven days a week, and admission will be free of charge.

Three-Year Communication Project

Over the next three years, a range of initiatives will share the story of a living piece of Danish cultural heritage, centred on the Børsen building.

In addition to the visitor centre, “Together for Børsen”, the project will include a 1,900 m² artwork on the Børsen site covering, illustrating the building’s history, as well as digital communication on social media and the web, films, publications, educational materials, and events.

The communication project is supported with a total of DKK 18 million from six major Danish foundations. These are the same foundations that have also made the extensive restoration of Børsen possible, which began in 2022. Each foundation contributes DKK 3 million.

The six foundations and associations are:

• The A.P. Møller Foundation – DKK 3,000,000
• The Aage and Johanne Louis-Hansen Foundation – DKK 3,000,000
• The Augustinus Foundation – DKK 3,000,000
• The Salling Foundations – DKK 3,000,000
• The Novo Nordisk Foundation – DKK 3,000,000
• The philanthropic association Realdania – DKK 3,000,000