News
An effective chair ensured a swift and smooth conduct of the 2026 Guild Assembly of Christian the Fourth’s Guild
In late February 2026, benchers, members, and guests gathered at Duus Vinkjælder for this year’s Guild Assembly.
As usual, the chief bencher warmly welcomed everyone present. He then introduced the agenda for the evening and handed over the task of chairing the meeting to former Garrison Commander Colonel Flemming Larsen.
Flemming Larsen began by confirming that the Assembly had been convened in accordance with the statutes and that all formalities were in order. He then returned the floor to the chief bencher for the Board’s report. With great pleasure, the chief bencher announced that no fewer than 345 new guild brothers and sisters had been admitted in 2025—an encouraging increase compared to previous years. He also mentioned that the customary admissions of members from Unmilpoc had now transitioned to Normilpoc, while cooperation otherwise continued. This remains positive, as it brings in new members from many different nations and strengthens the international dimension of Christian IV’s Guild.
Another international tradition that continued was the Rebild Festival, celebrating Danish American friendship. For this reason, no individuals from the official USA delegation were admitted on that occasion. The Guild also presented the “Soldier of the Year” award at the New Year’s Parade to Alberte Bech Kristensen, who, based on an excellent nomination, was selected as Soldier of the Year. The Guild was pleased that she was present this evening to be admitted as a member.
As usual, the Guild also awarded its Humor Scholarships—ten in total—to school pupils and apprentices. The Guild participated in two of these ceremonies: at Nørresundby Gymnasium, where Magnus Nielsen received a scholarship upon nomination by the faculty, and later when apprentice Mikkela Kristensen at Guldsmed Otte in Østerå received a Cheerfulness Scholarship upon nomination by her employer.
During the year, the Guild developed a donor concept to strengthen its social outreach. Eleven donors joined this initiative, enabling the Guild to support Safe House in Jomfru Ane Gade. With over one hundred volunteers, Safe House assists approximately two hundred and fifty –three hundred people every Friday and Saturday night who require various forms of help. Unfortunately, it has become necessary to protect the volunteers, and Safe House lacked funds to hire security personnel. The Guild allocated DKK 50,000 from donor funds for this purpose. In total, the Guild distributed DKK 100,000 to various charitable causes.
In addition, the Christian the Fourth’s Guild Foundation was active in 2025, supporting around twenty worthy causes with grants totaling DKK 90,000. Beneficiaries ranged from the Colitis-Crohn Association to the Knitting Girls.
The chief bencher then expressed thanks to the evening’s chair, Flemming Larsen, to the Guild’s partners, and to the chair brothers for their efforts during the year.
As tradition dictates, the Guild’s Aalborg Prize, Initiative Prize, and Honorary Prize—each worth DKK 10,000—were then awarded.
The Aalborg Prize was awarded to Ole Nielsen, who has served as director of the Himmerland Housing Association since 2008. He has conducted significant work, particularly in the association’s housing areas in Aalborg East, which have developed into a vibrant and active district. Ole Nielsen is highly enterprising and has made his mark in Aalborg in many ways, including as current chairman of SIFA. A former rugby player and senior leader in Danish rugby at both national and international levels, he has helped put Aalborg on the world map. With a big heart and a strong commitment to grassroots sports, he never forgets the most vulnerable. It is therefore with great pleasure that he received the Guild’s Aalborg Prize.
The Initiative Prize was awarded to Maj Kær. After losing her 14-year-old son Victor to meningitis, she experienced firsthand the lack of proper facilities for conversations with doctors and nursing staff and for families staying with seriously ill relatives. Meetings often had to take place in utility rooms and similar spaces. Maj Kær resolved that proper family facilities should be established at the new hospital. As a result, family rooms have now been created at the new Aalborg Universityhospital. She also found that when Victor wished to become an organ donor, the family received little support or guidance. This led her to establish the association “Værdig,” which provides advice and support in connection with transplants and similar situations. It was with great pleasure to give Maja Kær the Guild’s Initiative Prize.
The Honorary Prize was awarded to Lynge Jacobsen, who has long been engaged in social work, particularly for vulnerable young people. Since 2019 he has been deeply involved with VUK, a specialized educational program where many students come from STU, a three-year specialized program for young people unable to participate in the regular education system. Lynge has devoted great effort to ensuring that everyone—regardless of disability—has the opportunity to compete on equal terms and participate in social activities.
Congratulations to all the award recipients.
After the formal Guild Assembly, the event transitioned into an initiation evening for new members of Christian the Fourth’s Guild. The new prize recipients and other interested participants were admitted to the Guild. Following a welcome, the chief bencher introduced the chair brothers who form the Board—though, as usual, he forgot to introduce himself. Observers could hardly attribute this to blasphemy, and the vice chief bencher quickly remedied the oversight with a heartfelt introduction that left few dry eyes.
The chief bencher then explained the principles members are expected to respect and live by. The Guild’s historical expert recounted its history, and the newly admitted members received the golden keys granting access to Duus Vinkjælder through the Secret Passage. The group then set out through Aalborg in search of the Secret Passage, where the golden key was tested—and worked—allowing them to return to the cellar. Back inside, the initiates tasted the ancient drink mead, after which Christian the Fourth’s Guild’s grand dinner awaited: two red sausages with bread. The Guild songbook was distributed, and the Guild’s two troubadours provided music for the songs. Guests were also given insight into what life might be like for opponents of alcohol. With a final musical performance, the troubadours concluded the evening’s initiation.
Afterwards, the benchers, the evening’s award recipients, and other invited guests gathered for a reception to further discuss the events of the evening.
See more pictures here
Admission Saturday, February 14, 2026Skydebrødrene i Aaalborg
Admission of forty-two new members to the Fraternal Shooting Society.
On what has so far been the coldest day of the year, forty-two well-dressed and expectant members of the Fraternal Shooting Society gathered at Duus’s Wine Cellar.
The Fraternal Shooting Society is Aalborg’s oldest society, founded in 1431, making it 511 years older than Christian IV’s Guild, though many of the ideals are the same.
The seriousness of the day dawned on most of the shooting brothers when the Chief Bencher welcomed them with the words, “our thirst first.”
The brave shooting brothers glanced in astonishment at their empty glasses—this was an unexpected trial—but all endured.
Finally, after a perilous journey over snow- and ice-covered streets through old Aalborg around Stenhuset, the new brothers were able to quench their thirst with a glass of refreshing mead.
During the Guild’s “Grand Dinner,” featuring potato juice and beer, everyone’s pulse settled completely.
After the subsequent presentation of C4 pins, the treasurer expressed his - rare for him – joy at the voluntary contributions to the Guild’s collection box.
The morning passed all too quickly, and the Guild Council left the newly admitted members in good spirits.
See the pictures Here
Read the news Here
At the New Year Ceremony 2025 on Cathedral Square, the Guild of Christian IV appointed 
Soldier of the Year following a recommendation from Aalborg Garrison.
The honor was awarded to Private Alberte Bech Kristensen of the 2nd Medical Company, who was praised for her professionalism, dedication, and positive attitude despite a short period of service. She was commended for consistently delivering an extraordinary effort, demonstrating strong teamwork, and placing patients and colleagues above her own needs.
The Chief Bencher highlighted her commitment, courage, and good humor as exemplary qualities of a modern soldier.
Five Benchers, led by the Chief Bencher and accompanied by the Guild’s troubadours, first visited Nørresundby Gymnasium and later goldsmith Kristian Otte in Østerå, Aalborg, to present the Guild’s The Good Spirit Prize to a high school student and an apprentice, respectively.
The entire assembly hall at Nørresundby Gymnasium was filled with cheerful students about to begin their Christmas holidays. During the Guild’s entrance, its representatives were welcomed with loud applause. Principal Søren Hindsholm introduced the Guild of Christian IV and explained that the Guild was present to award a The Good Spirit Prize to one selected student among the many at the school.
Chief Bencher Niels Voss Hansen then took the floor and spoke briefly about the Guild of Christian IV and its activities, including the fact that the Guild awards ten The Good Spirit Prize each year to young people in education. He explained that the Guild was present that day to present one of these grants.
The suspense was then resolved when the Chief Bencher called Magnus Nielsen from class 2.n to the podium. It was announced that Magnus had been nominated by several teachers, who agreed that he was the most deserving recipient of The Good Spirit Prize.
The Chief Bencher presented Magnus with an envelope and encouraged him to take pride in being selected and to carry his personal qualities with him into the future. As Christmas was approaching, Magnus was told—half in jest—that he might consider spending the grant on something slightly imprudent, though of course that decision was entirely his own.
The presentation was followed by thunderous applause from the entire hall, which continued as the Guild left the room to music performed by the troubadours, who had also drawn attention during the Guild’s entrance.
Later the same day, the C4 delegation arrived at Kristian Otte’s goldsmith workshop in Østerå, Aalborg. For security reasons, visitors had to ring the bell for entry—and it worked. The goldsmith himself opened the door. The Guild entered the workshop accompanied by music from the two troubadours, while the staff looked on with curiosity.
The goldsmith, his two journeymen, and three apprentices waited with anticipation as the Chief Bencher addressed them. He first introduced the Guild and its activities and then moved on to the presentation of the Guild’s Good Spirit Prize for young people in education.
Goldsmith apprentice Mikkela Kristensen was then called forward to receive the The Good Spirit Prize, having been nominated by her employer and master craftsman. The award brought immense joy to Mikkela as well as to her colleagues, who warmly congratulated her.
Mikkela also received kind words from the Chief Bencher and was similarly told that, since the prize was unexpected, she was welcome to spend it on something a little imprudent.
It was a good and cheerful day for the five Benchers, who returned to the Guild ater the day’s “exertions” to share their positive experiences.