I hope you all had an incredible time during the lustrum week this past April. For those who couldn’t be there, this is the perfect chance to catch up on all the unforgettable activities that took place. And for those who were there, it’s time to relive some of the memories that made the week so special.
The preparations for the lustrum began way back in October, when the 35th VESTING Board and the VII Lustrum Committee first joined forces. From the start, the goal was to create a well-balanced program, one that combined lively parties, sporty challenges, and laid-back social events to offer something for everyone.
When the 36th VESTING Board took over from the 35th, the work was far from finished. While the main activities had been selected and many of the bookings secured, the finer details still needed attention: ticket sales, final logistics, and countless last-minute touches to bring everything together. After months of hard work by the Lustrum Committee, the 35th and 36th VESTING Board, it was finally time for the VII VESTING Lustrum to take off on its voyage!
Monday
On Monday, the 28th of April, the VESTING Lustrum officially set sail. The Lustrum Committee and the 36th VESTING Board kicked things off with a shared dinner at Gyas, before getting to work transforming the space, decorating and arranging tables in preparation for the much-anticipated beercantus.
After hours of prep and building excitement, the evening finally kicked off at 10 PM. As students began to arrive, the beer started flowing freely. Our cantors took the lead, guiding everyone through the beercantus with enthusiasm and a firm hand for anyone who dared not sing along. For two hours, the room was filled with laughter, singing, and non-stop drinking, creating an atmosphere of pure joy.
Once the cantus wrapped up, everyone pitched in to clear away the tables, making room for the next phase of the night: dancing. Those who hadn’t made it to the beercantus joined in for the party, and the beers kept coming.
With great conversations, impressive dance moves, and plenty of drinks, the opening night came to a close, setting the tone for an unforgettable lustrum week ahead.
Tuesday
The following morning, or rather afternoon, all the passe-partout holders gathered for a well-deserved lunch to recover from the lively opening party and gear up for one of the most energetic activities of the week: the padel tournament. Over a delicious meal at the Goudkantoor, spirits were lifted and excitement started to build.
Once everyone had eaten their fill, we hopped on our bikes and made our way to the Padellers. There, we kicked things off with a short introduction to the tournament format before pairing up and hitting the courts. The event began with a three-match pool phase, followed by a thrilling knockout round.
Even after elimination, teams had the chance to keep playing just for fun. Some participants went all-in, battling it out for the full three hours and sweating out whatever was left from Monday night. Others, once knocked out, opted for a more relaxed approach: sipping cold beers under the sun and cheering from the sidelines.
At the end of the day, the tournament champions were rewarded with shiny new padel rackets, a perfect ending to an action-packed afternoon.
Wednesday
After a sporty and health-focused Tuesday, it was time to shift gears again. Wednesday was boating day! Borrelvloot took us on a relaxing cruise through the canals of Groningen, complete with unlimited beer, wine, gin, soft drinks, and even a bit of celebratory champagne.
The atmosphere was unbeatable. Drinks in hand, sun on our faces, and everyone in high spirits. The weather couldn’t have been better, and luckily a few wise souls remembered to bring sunscreen, which turned out to be absolutely essential.
For two blissful hours, we cruised, laughed, and sipped our drinks while soaking in the sun. By the time we stepped off the boat, most of us were already feeling pretty tipsy. Small groups broke off for dinner around the city, and later in the evening, we regrouped at a house party hosted by one of our own.
The good vibes continued well into the night, great conversations, spontaneous dancing, and, of course, more drinks. It was another unforgettable day in a week that just kept getting better.
Thursday
Next on the agenda was the most formal day of the lustrum week. Though “formal” might be a bit of a stretch. KPMG had the pleasure of hosting us for a cooking workshop at the Leyhoeve, and from the moment we arrived, it was clear we were in for a special evening. Our wonderful hosts made sure the champagne was flowing during the walk-in, setting a festive tone right away.
After a brief welcome, we made our way to the cooking stations, where we rolled up our sleeves and got to work on a four-course meal. The menu featured highlights like a creamy asparagus soup, sea bass that we filleted ourselves, and a decadent dessert to top it all off. Along the way, there was plenty of time for networking with the KPMG team in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.
While the chefs handled the finishing touches, we stepped back outside for some drinks before sitting down to enjoy the fruits of our labor. The workshop was a fantastic experience, fun, interactive, and delicious. We’re incredibly grateful to KPMG for putting this day together with us.
Friday
Friday marked a special highlight of the week: Friends Day! Everyone was welcome to bring along friends from their student associations, housemates, or even old friends from back home.
We kicked off the afternoon at Pitch & Putt Groningen, where a mix of pitch & putt, footgolf, and minigolf awaited us. Split into teams, we took on the various courses, trying to master our golf swings, aim the perfect footgolf kick, or navigate the trickiest mini-golf holes. With hourly rotations, everyone had the chance to try all three games, and the enthusiasm was high across the board.
Once we wrapped up the games, we headed to the terrace for two hours of unlimited beer and wine, paired with some tasty snacks. Just what we needed after an active afternoon. After heading home for dinner and a quick refresh, we reunited for the grand finale of the week: the closing party at Huize Maas.
The drinks flowed freely. There was beer, wine, soft drinks, and domestic spirits, ensuring that everyone was, let’s say, in excellent spirits. At 11 PM, our very own lustrum band took the stage, performing the official lustrum songs along with a lively setlist that had the crowd singing and dancing for a full hour.
As the party officially came to a close, the night was far from over. Most people kept the celebrations going and danced their way into the early hours at Fust, making it a night, and a week, to remember.
Saturday
Each year, VESTING organizes an alumni activity, giving former members the chance to reconnect, catch up, and reminisce. We also traditionally host a separate day for previous boards, known as Oud Besturen Dag. But this year, in celebration of the lustrum, we brought the two together for a special combined event: the Lustrum Alumni Day.
For the first time, this event was organized not by the VESTING Board, but by the Alumni Committee. It turned out to be a huge success! We saw a record-breaking number of attendees join us for the VESTING Lustrum Pub Quiz. The quiz featured a mix of questions about VESTING, Groningen, and music, sparking lots of enthusiasm and friendly competition.
With beers flowing and laughter all around, the winners were awarded a bottle of Salmari, which didn’t last long! The evening was filled with conversations, whether catching up with old friends or connecting with VESTING members from different generations.
All in all, it was a fantastic way to round off an unforgettable lustrum week.
