“Setra is in my heart, and now that heart is on my bus,” says Geert Slingerland. The bus operator has decorated his S 516 HD with a giant Setra Love tattoo. Since childhood, the Dutchman has been fascinated by Setra buses, remaining loyal to the brand to this day.

And Geert Slingerland could hardly express his admiration for it in a more prominent place: in recent times, a larger-than-life heart with the Setra lettering has decorated the sides and rear of one of the S 516 HD ComfortClass coaches belonging to Slingerland Tours, based in Mijdrecht, Netherlands. The motif, styled after a tattoo, was originally the main image behind the social media campaign #setratruelove. During this campaign, established to celebrate the 70-year anniversary of the brand, Setra fans were asked to document their special relationship with Setra and illustrate it with pictures.

“Ever since I worked in our local petrol station as a child and saw my first Setra coaches there, I have had a special place in my heart for the brand,” explains the now 70-year-old Geert Slingerland. “When I first saw the #setratruelove campaign, I knew it at once: I had to have this design on my bus.” It was no sooner said than done. Now, everyone can see – in widescreen and full technicolour – how closely connected Slingerland Tours is to the Setra brand.

When, in 1988, Slingerland took over his parents’ taxi company and added bus trips to the range, his first investment was in a S 208 HM. With this club bus, he transported employees of Johnson Wax to the new works at Heerenveen. Many other Setras followed over the years. What Geert Slingerland particularly valued about Setra vehicles was their quality and value retention. And he found that his customers also valued the particular comfort and reliability of Setra coaches.

Geert Slingerland’s passion for Setra buses is not restricted to his work. In private too, his heart skips a beat for Setra. “20 years ago, with my wife, I bought a Setra S 6 built in 1958 and have restored it bit by bit ever since.” Today, the historical jewel looks as good as new, and is used for weddings and promotional tours. Restoration work on a second S 6 has long been under way. A few years ago, Geert sold a well-restored Setra S 11 to another enthusiast – something he now considers, in retrospect, a “massive error.”

The bus operator has found many like minds in the Setra Veterans’ Club, for which Slingerland has been the Dutch representative for many years. At the annual meeting of these Setra old-timer fans, he gets chatting with other passionate Setra owners and always finds out a few more useful tips on restoration. And as a reliable source of rare replacement parts, Slingerland is known and valued by the other members of the club. Because caring for and maintaining his Setras is an affair of the heart for Geert. “Every bus is like a child to me,” he says, grinning. And he doesn’t just mean his old-timers, but also, and above all, his Setra S 516 HD with the huge heart on its side.