When tens of thousands of Dutch supporters flooded the streets of Houston, Texas, on Saturday morning, one iconic symbol led the way — a bright orange double-decker bus that has been a fixture of Netherlands fan culture for more than two decades.

The Oranje Bus guided over 10,000 fans through the Oranje Fanwalk from Rice University to Houston Stadium, where the Netherlands went on to defeat Sweden 5-1 later that day. It was the latest chapter in a story that has been running for 22 years and counting.

A vehicle like no other

At the wheel, as he has been for five FIFA World Cups, was Frans Peeters. From Germany to South Africa, Brazil to Qatar, and now across North America, Peeters has steered the double-decker wherever the Netherlands have taken the world stage.

The bus came close to missing its moment this time around. A technical fault had threatened to keep it off the road just days before the fanwalk, prompting a real-life