On August 22, 2025, employees from Vela/Vermund Larsen’s Tampa, Florida branch were officially inducted into Christian the Fourth’s Guild in Aalborg.

The company wanted their American colleagues to experience a touch of Danish hygge and humor, while also introducing them to the historic 401-year-old Jens Bang’s Stone House. For many participants, it was their very first journey outside the United States.

The induction ceremony, held in Duus’ Wine Cellar, combined tradition, history, and camaraderie. Guests took part in the Guild’s rituals, visited the symbolic linden tree at Aalborg City Hall, and even passed through the Guild’s secret passage with their newly awarded golden keys.

The program continued with a gala lunch, where participants were introduced to mead, Aalborg snaps, and the Nordic way of life—complete with music and song provided by the Guild’s troubadours.

The event left the new members in high spirits, marking both a cultural exchange and a memorable celebration of friendship between Denmark and their American colleagues.

Christian the Fourth’s Guild recently welcomed 40 new members from Lodge Cimbria, joined by an equal number of guests, in a packed celebration at Duus’ Wine Cellar in Aalborg.

The induction ceremony featured the Guild’s traditional rituals, the awarding of the golden key, and a festive procession through the old and new parts of the city, including a visit to the Guild’s symbolic linden tree at City Hall and the historic secret passage.

Back in the cellar, the new members enjoyed mead and the Guild’s gala lunch—complete with  beer, the famous cognac mustard, and the traditional (and carefully instructed) potato juice. Music and songs from the Guild’s troubadours ensured a lively atmosphere throughout.

The event concluded with warm wishes from the chief bencher and benchers, marking a memorable day of fellowship and tradition for the new Guild brothers and sisters.

See the pictures here

Aalborg Municipality, the organizer of this major recurring sporting event, thought that some of the participating leaders from various nations should also have a genuine Aalborg experience by being inducted into Christian the Fourth’s Guild.

Twenty-eight leaders from the participating nations gathered in the old cellar beneath Jens Bang’s Stone House, where they went through the induction ritual and became new members of Christian the Fourth’s Guild. Naturally, the ceremony was conducted in English, and everyone was introduced to the Guild’s humanitarian efforts and history. They also learned that the Guild has many international members spread across 120 nations.

After being informed of this and of the gentlemen seated at the high table, the newly inducted members set off on a tour of both the old and new Aalborg. Along the way, a stop was made at the Guild’s beautiful linden tree in front of the City Hall. Here, the Guild’s Forest Ranger, Henrik Schou, spoke about the tree and, not least, about his delightful task of caring for it, as well as two trees in Norway for which the Guild is also responsible. He also told them about the engraved stone at the base of the tree, bearing Christian the Fourth’s symbol.

The procession then continued into old Aalborg and stopped at the Guild’s secret entrance. Here, the Guild’s historical expert, Palle Bjørnstrup, spoke about developments during World War II that necessitated an alternative entrance, one that could only be used by Guild members, all of whom were equipped with the golden key—a key identical to the one they had now been given, which they could use on future visits to Aalborg. The Master of Ceremonies, Svend Aage Suhr, ensured that one of the new members evaluated the key, which worked perfectly, and all could then pass through the hidden passage back to the cellar.

Here, Guild Master Niels Voss Hansen once again took the floor, and the guests were led through a tasting of mead, followed by the Guild’s grand gala dinner. They were also introduced to the art and appreciation of drinking Aalborg Akvavit—a process aided by communal singing, led by the Guild’s troubadours, Kjeld Trudslev and Henning Kaastrup. These troubadours later performed a joyful musical medley that matched the good spirits in the room.

The Guild Master also shared stories and illustrations about how some people fought against alcohol, including the well-known Larsen-Ledet in Denmark, and about alcohol in Northern Norway. The gathering also heard his personal story about how one might learn to speak Finnish.

When the mood was at its peak, the Guild Master announced that the Stolsbrødre would now leave the gathering, doing so with wishes for enjoyable days and good experiences in Aalborg during the Youth Games, and reminding the guests to bring their key to the Hidden Passage when they next visit Aalborg.

Induction into Christian the Fourth’s Guild on July 4th — Celebrated the Spirit of Friendship

Seven benches were present in Duus’ Wine Cellar to conduct this year’s induction of new members into the Guild as part of the ongoing friendship between the United States and Denmark—a long-standing tradition where friendship takes center stage.

Ten expectant new members, along with at least as many guests in the cellar, went through the well-known induction ritual of Christian the Fourth’s Guild. Prior to the ceremony, it was established that all present—both the inductees and the guests—understood and spoke Danish. Therefore, it was decided that the induction would be conducted in Danish on this occasion.

As usual for the July 4th inductions, there was a tight schedule, as most attendees needed to make it to the Rebild Society’s luncheon ahead of the main event in the hills.

The ten new members learned all about the Guild’s rules and regulations and were also given the mandatory city tour, albeit the cut version due to time constraints. Afterwards, the newly inducted tasted the traditional mead, and everyone passed this test successfully. Then, they were seated, and the Christian the Fourth’s Guild gala lunch was served. Beer was tasted, and—according to the head table—later also snaps, which still very much belongs to Aalborg and proudly bears the city’s name.

All good things ended, as they say, except good friendship. That must be nurtured and built upon, a message that the guild brothers underlined with their farewell song.

Afterwards, everyone departed for Rebild Hills. Upon arrival, it was immediately clear that something new had been introduced - the usual white tent in the parking lot in front of Rebildhus was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a large tip had been erected in the area normally used for overflow parking.

It was exciting to step inside, and without a doubt, the intended atmosphere was achieved, as a warm and cozy mood quickly spread.
Then came the luncheon, which was completed within a couple of hours and included speeches—among them one by Rebild Society chairman Jørgen Bech Madsen, who emphasized the value of friendship in light of the current situation with a rather controversial U.S. president.

But the Rebild Society has existed since 1912, always based on friendship between the U.S. and Denmark, founded especially of the many Danes who over the years became Danish-Americans.
Throughout its history, the Rebild Society has worked to promote this message of friendship, regardless of who the U.S. president has been—serving as a global signal that friendship between nations is essential to mutual well-being.

As tradition dictates, Christian the Fourth’s Guild also took to the stage to present C4 ties and caps for the gentlemen, and C4 scarves and caps for the ladies among the special invitees. This year’s guests included Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, world-renowned Aalborg-born ice hockey player Nicolai Ehlers, and Member of Parliament Muhammed Rona.

As is also tradition for July 4th events, the weather proved difficult to control. This year brought a healthy dose of rain—but the tipi tent managed to keep guests dry. It became more challenging when the rain arrived during the main event in the hills.

 Se the pictures here