VIDEO: Massive fire rips apart Copenhagen's historic stock exchange building

Denmark’s historic 17th-century former stock exchange building in the centre of bustling Copenhagen has been engulfed in massive fires, AFP reported.

The Borsen building is one of the oldest and best known landmarks in Copenhagen, which locals refer to as "our Notre-Dame".

The building contained tonnes of old original Danish painting, as well as vast artefacts.

The fire started at around 7:30 am local time under the red-brick building's copper roof.

Everyone inside the building were able to escape before fire engulfed the building.

More than a hundred firefighters have been dispatched to the scene.

Culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said that "400 years of Danish cultural heritage had gone up in flames".

The building, dating back to 1,625 was under renovation, it currently housed the Danish chamber of commerce.

It was built by King Christian IV between 1619 and 1640.

The cause of the fire in Copenhagen is currently unknown but emergency services said the scaffolding made their operation more difficult.

Much of the building is thought to have been badly damaged by the fire, which officials say was most intense around its tower.

Police said they had blocked off parts of the city centre as part of the fire-fighting efforts.