Around 15,000 Dutch supporters gathered at Rice University on Saturday morning, and any memory of a mid-week mechanical scare had long faded. Flags flew, chants echoed through the streets, and at the head of the orange procession rolled the legendary Oranje Bus, bound for NRG Stadium in Houston.

Just two days earlier, a technical fault had briefly grounded the famous double-decker — a fleeting "Houston, we have a problem" moment in the city that gave the phrase its fame. The crew fixed the issue in time, and the bus led the Oranje Fanwalk through the heart of Houston without further incident. Later that evening, the Netherlands defeated Sweden 5-1, adding another remarkable chapter to this travelling carnival's story.

A bus that has circled the globe

Frans Peeters has driven the Oranje Bus for 22 years, ferrying Dutch fan culture to every corner of the world. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is his fifth World Cup behind the wheel of the cult vehicle. From Germany to South Africa, Brazil, and Qatar, the bright-orange double-decker has been present every time the Netherlands stepped onto the world stage.

"Wherever we turn up, people sing, dance, and laugh," Peeters said. "We bring joy and a smile to people. In the end, we are all one big family."

The story began before UEFA EURO 2004, when a group of friends bought an old English double-decker and repainted it in Dutch colours on a whim. That spontaneous idea grew into an enduring symbol of Dutch fan culture. The bus has now covered more than 70,000 kilometres at sea and tens of thousands more on roads worldwide. At over 60 fan marches, it is estimated to have drawn more than 450,000 followers.

For Peeters, the bus is far more than a vehicle. "There is no other bus in the world that follows its national team everywhere," he said. "It costs time, money, and sometimes nerves — but we keep doing it."

Houston turns orange

The Houston fanwalk drew thousands, with not only Dutch supporters joining in but also residents of the host city lining the route — and some falling into step alongside the marching fans. Among them were Paul Hirschel and Caroline Dessing from Rotterdam, who dressed as orange Statues of Liberty. "The Statue of Liberty stands for freedom, friendship, and international togetherness," Dessing said. "Those are the same values that unite the Dutch football family."

On the upper deck of the Oranje Bus stood FIFA legends Wesley Sneijder and Edwin van der Sar, who took in the spectacle at close quarters. "This never gets old," Sneijder told Dutch broadcaster NOS. "You see not only Dutch fans — the people who live here join in and celebrate too. Everywhere Oranje plays, people talk about this fanwalk. It has become a real tradition."

Chris Canetti, president of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee, was equally impressed. "The arrival of the Oranje fans brings incredible energy to our city. Houston is proud to host one of the most recognisable fan traditions in world football."

Marianne van Leeuwen, director of professional football at the KNVB, added: "What makes it special is the connection between the team and our supporters. Together, we create this unique atmosphere that we look forward to at every tournament."

When football unites the world

For Peeters, the Oranje Bus means something that reaches beyond the game itself. Asked for his most cherished memory, he recalled UEFA EURO 2012 in Ukraine without hesitation.

"The people there seemed very reserved at first," he said. "After the first match, you saw a small smile. After the second, a bigger one. And after the third, they were marching and singing and dancing with us to the stadium. It was like a flower slowly opening."

That experience, for Peeters, captures the essence of the project: bringing people together regardless of language, background, or culture. It was visible again in Houston, where local resident Noe Contreras watched the crowds stream past. "Seeing people from so many different cultures come together like this is simply extraordinary," he said. "That is exactly what makes this tournament so special."

"We are the twelfth man behind our team," Peeters said, "in good times and in bad." As the Oranje Bus rolled up to NRG Stadium with thousands of fans in its wake, every word of that rang true — the Netherlands had not only brought a football match to Houston, but a tradition more than two decades in the making that turns cities orange and reminds the world that the game belongs to everyone.