After a short pause in the Guild’s induction activities, we were able on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, to welcome no fewer twenty-nine new members.

Once the ritual toast “Our thirst first” had properly wetted our throats, the chief bencher began in earnest. The guests—among them former employees of Provinsbanken and a group of men whose hobby is metal detecting—were warmly welcomed. The chief bencher elaborated on the distinguished company they were joining, including none other than Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and His Majesty King Frederik X, along with many well-known personalities worldwide. In total, the Guild has around 8,700 members from 120 countries.

The guests were also introduced to the individual benchers around the table, although the chief bencher forgot to introduce himself (he is a bit shy). Fortunately, this oversight was quickly corrected.

Before their induction, the guests were informed of the conditions of membership. The chief bencher went through the articles of the Guild Charter one by one and introduced the Guild’s “Virgin Expert.”
When all agreed to uphold the rules, they were presented with the golden key, enabling them to enter Duus’ Wine Cellar with friends in the future—though naturally only during opening hours.

To demonstrate this in practice, a short walk followed. Unfortunately, the route did not include the Guild’s beautiful linden tree at Aalborg City Hall due to preparations for the Christmas market at the Old Square. Instead, an “economy tour” led to the secret back entrance, where the newly inducted members heard the story of the incident in World War II, when a bomb was thrown into the restaurant from the front of the building and the unfortunate consequences that followed.

The head of ceremonials then asked one of the newly inducted to evaluate the key. It worked, and everyone returned safely to the Wine Cellar, where they were introduced to the old Danish drink mead, before enjoying the Guild’s distinguished lunch and learning the proper way to drink Aalborg’s famous “potato juice.”

There was an excellent atmosphere in the cellar, further lifted when the Guild’s two-man band led several songs from the Guild songbook.

As always, all good things must end. The benchers sang their brief farewell to the newly inducted, who continued to enjoy conversation and the warm atmosphere.