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Chapter 8. T h e c om m e r c ia l city of C openhagen . Under shelter of the old castle of Absalon and the later fortifications this city, so ideal situated w ith regard to the commerce, has seen the growing prosperity from an uncom­ monly rich mercantile life. The numerous wars and fires were not able lo stop the development. Copenhagen by and by became the cultural center of Denmark, the residence, the seat of the university and the principal seat of the clergy; but first and last the commercial life was the cause of its growth in.size, prestige and importance.. Since the middle of the nineteenth century the development has taken giantstrides. The building of the large, bu t nevertheless later on con­ siderably enlarged Freeport, furthermore has underlined (he very fine conditions of Copenhagen for the transit-trade and it seems as though the city of about % million inhabitants, not least on account of this fact, stands a fair chance of a continued and considerable commercial development. The Exchange, the only one dings of Copenhagen. I t in the country, is the center

was built in 1619—40 in the style of Dutch renaissance by Chris­ tian IV. Its peculiar tower is formed by four dragons in te r­ tw ining their tails into a spire. The broad planted ramp with two sandstone figures, »Mer- cury« and »Neptune« on the' sides, leads to the main-en­ trance in the finely ornamen­ ted western gable, and through a hall one enters the large exhange-hall, by 10 co­ lumns divided into a great middle ball and two side ais­ les. Above the entrance is a

of the wholesale trade, the sale of stocks and shares, the place of the quotation and the seat of the Merchants’ Guild, an assocration of repre­ sentatives of the wholesale trade divided into a number of branches, each tak ing care of the special interests of its members. The Exhange is si­ tuated right opposite the Hol- mens K irke (church of the navy) on the other side of the canal (route (i) and is one of the most stylish buil-

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