Difference between revisions of "Maastricht"

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== Hitchhiking out ==
 
== Hitchhiking out ==
  
=== North towards [[Eindhoven]] (and motorway towards [[Aachen]]/[[Cologne|Köln]], [[Germany]]) ===
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As to 2017, getting out of Maastricht seems to be the hardest part of any journey. [[User:OlcheMaith|Roaming Pencil]] has managed to get out every time, but it usually took at least an hour of waiting (in any direction).
There was a ''[[liftershalte]]'', a special spot for hitchhiking, at the beginning of the [[A2 (Netherlands)|A2]] near the soccer stadium ''De Geusselt'' (Viaductweg x N2/A2) (direction [[Eindhoven]]) and the [[A79 (Netherlands)|A79]] (direction [[Heerlen]]). With the upgrade of the N2 to [[A2 (Netherlands)|A2]] this liftershalte was removed.  
 
  
Hitchhiking towards [[Eindhoven]] and [[Heerlen]] / [[Aachen]] is now best at the crossing Meerssenerweg / Viaduchtweg where you can ask rides at the traffic lights, or at the Terblijterweg, in front of the Geusselt football stadium, with so so space for a car to stop.  
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=== North towards [[Eindhoven]] (A2) {{E|25}}, east towards [[Heerlen]], [[Aachen]] ([[Germany]]) (A79) ===
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''See below, under '''East towards [[Gulpen]], [[Aachen]] (N278)''' for an alternate route.  The construction along here in 2016 is crazy.''
  
It is also very well possible to use this spot to hitchhike towards the motorway [[Aachen]] and then on to [[Cologne|Köln]] and further. Some people recommend to catch a lift to [[Heerlen]] and then catch another one to [[Aachen]] at the junction of A79 and N281.
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There was a ''[[liftershalte]]'', a special spot for hitchhiking, at the beginning of the [[A2 (Netherlands)|A2]] near the soccer stadium ''De Geusselt'' (Viaductweg x N2/A2). With the upgrade of the N2 to [[A2 (Netherlands)|A2]] this liftershalte was removed.  
  
If you prefer you can also stand about 300 meter north of the former official hitchhiking spot. You can reach the hard shoulder of the N2 from the tunnel at Severenstraat. Cars drive notably faster there. The spot is not recommended mon-fri from 7-19 because of local roadworks.  
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Hitchhiking this direction is not always very easy. There is no obvious spot. Here are a few suggestions.  
  
An alternative for hitchhiking towards the north (especially directions [[Eindhoven]] and further can be found at the N2 opposite the Maastricht-Randwyck trainstation. From the station walk up the stairs, turn left on the bridge so that you cross the N2, at the end walk around the soccer fields. Once you are close to the main road, walk through the vegetation and then a couple of 100s of meters along the road (through the ditch to stay safe and smooth) towards the bridge that connects with the Randwyck station. There is a very wide hard shoulder now (2013) and a maximum speed of 50 kmh (cars passing mostly at 50-80 kmh). Note that this location hitchhiking is officially not allowed because of the freeway status.  
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1. Traffic lights at west end of the Terblijterweg, where it connects with the N2/A2 motorway, close to the Geusselt football stadium. You really have to go to the traffic lights, which requires 150 meter of walking illegally along the Terblijterweg which is closed for pedestrians. Once at the traffic lights it should not take more than a few minutes to get a ride, pref. use a sign A2 or A79 / Heerlen. Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]]: a good spot, police would send you away but it is unlikely that you need to wait long if you know what you're doing! Personal experience of  [[User:Rainboat|rainboat]]: We waited here for nearly an hour, carrying a sign saying A2.
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2. Crossroad Meerssenerweg / Viaductweg where you can ask rides at the traffic lights. Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]]: works but not all traffic goes the A2. Sign A2 or A79 / Heerlen can help.
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[[User:OlcheMaith|Roaming Pencil]] always waits here for at least an hour, whether she's hitchhiking north or west, but eventually it works. Not sure whether this spot is possible now with the roadworks.
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3. Just before A2-access lane Maastricht-Randwyck at the road Oeslingerbaan, on the bridge over the A2. There is a hard shoulder on the bridge on which a driver can easily stop. A sign Heerlen is recommended here if you are going there or into Germany, passing by or going to Aachen. Bus 1 and 6 (direction De Heeg) stop nearby at busstop Oeslingerbaan/Langendaal. http://goo.gl/maps/430rZ. Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]]: An average wait of 20 minutes, a sign A2 or A79 / Heerlen helps. Police may send you away here. Easiest way to get on the bridge is from BP petrol station walk behind the safety rail along Oeslingerbaan.  
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4. New access lane of the A2-motorway on the junction Kruisdonk, near Rothem. Drivers can stop at the access lane on a hard shoulder beside the driving lane. To get here from the city you can take bus line 59 or 159 until busstop "Kruispunt" in Rothem, then walk south along Ambyerweg / cycling path for 500 meters. Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]]: despite a lot of space on the access lane waiting times are rather long. You can approach cars at the traffic light at the exit lane, many of them are crossing the road and driving up the A2. Everybody can take you to the next petrol station.  
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5. Hitchhiking north through Belgium - somewhere along Brusselseweg. Aim for Maasmechelen - if you reach the N78, it goes back into the Netherlands and meets the A2/E25 after the black hole of hitchhiking out of Maastricht is over.
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Generally, if you are heading for [[Germany]] passing by or going to [[Aachen]] you should aim for a ride to [[Heerlen]], where you can hitchhike again on the N281 towards [[Aachen]]. Standing on the motorway junction just before [[Heerlen]] should be avoided, because it is not allowed to stand there.  
  
 
[[File:Tmoon.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[User:Tmoon|Tmoon]] hitching out of Maastricht]]
 
[[File:Tmoon.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[User:Tmoon|Tmoon]] hitching out of Maastricht]]
  
=== East towards [[Gulpen]], [[Aachen]] ([[Germany]]) ===
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=== East towards [[Gulpen]], [[Aachen]] (N278/"Cadier en Keer") ===
Take the bus #53 or #54 from the center towards ''Akersteenweg''. At this bus stop you'll find a petrol station. There you can try to get a lift towards [[Aachen]] in [[Germany]].
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Take the bus #53 or #54 from the center towards ''Akersteenweg'' (you can also walk, but it takes a while; cycling is faster). At this bus stop you'll find a petrol station[https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Esso/@50.8418987,5.7388902,18z/data=!4m21!1m15!4m14!1m6!1m2!1s0x47c0ded3c3a19e73:0x9c68915e1903c150!2sGenk,+Belgium!2m2!1d5.5021!2d50.96613!1m6!1m2!1s0x47c0ea267bccbe6f:0xe2b8beb79c8d93b5!2sAkersteenweg,+Maastricht,+Netherlands!2m2!1d5.7322656!2d50.8429126!3m4!1s0x0:0x5097d3d4b56f8abb!8m2!3d50.8422334!4d5.7397992?hl=en]. There you can try to get a lift towards [[Aachen]] in [[Germany]].  You might have to get a few lifts, village to village, along the N278 aka "Cadier en Keer", but you shouldn't ever have to wait very long. Usually a lift to at least Vaals, which is right before the border and Aachen, is possible.  
  
=== South towards [[Liège|Liege]] ===
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=== South towards [[Liège|Liege]] (A2) {{E|25}} ===
Follow the rail track from the central station out of the town in a southern direction from the backside exit (use the bridge over the rails). At the first rail/road crossing south of the station hike on over the cycling path and later, still by the side of the railway, over Gerardusweg. Follow this way until the end, thus you walk under a bridge and you will arrive at a motorway entrance on the junction named Europaplein; some hundreds of meters further on at the other side of the railway is the railway station Maastricht Randwyck. If you stand at the corner of the road across from the sign pointing at the A2/Luik (Liege) you will get a lift. |[[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]]'s average waiting time here is 10 minutes for a ride to Liege.  
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Follow the rail track from the central station out of the town in a southern direction from the backside exit (use the bridge over the rails). At the first rail/road crossing south of the station hike on over the cycling path and later, still by the side of the railway, over Sint Gerardusweg. Follow this way until the end, thus you walk under a bridge (John F. Kennedysingel). This is the junction Europaplein. Keep walking 100 meters ahead to the motorway ramp. Average wait is about 10 minutes, max. 30 minutes. Longer rides are not common. Petrol station between Maastricht and Liège (still in the Netherlands) is not very busy, but can give longer rides into France. Knowing the good spots in Liège to hitch-hike is a good idea.
  
=== West towards [[Hasselt]], [[Antwerpen]], [[Leuven]], [[Brussels]] ===
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=== West towards [[Hasselt]], [[Antwerpen]], [[Leuven]], [[Brussels]] (Belgian N2) ===
Best place towards [[Hasselt]] is at or just after the traffic lights at the crossing of Via Regia and Canteleerstraat, the first crossing after the traffic square Via Regia. Use a sign. Expect short rides to [[Veldwezelt]], [[Mopertingen]] and [[Bilzen]]. You will reach the motorway at [[Diepenbeek]] or [[Bilzen]], where you can easily get further. All the motorway access lanes in Hasselt are suitable for either [[Brussels]] or [[Antwerpen]].
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Best place towards [[Hasselt]] is at or just after the traffic lights at the crossing of Via Regia and Canteleerstraat, the first crossing after the traffic square Via Regia. Expect short rides to [[Veldwezelt]], [[Mopertingen]] and [[Bilzen]]. You will reach the motorway at [[Diepenbeek]] or [[Bilzen]], where you can easily get further. All the motorway access lanes in Hasselt are suitable for either [[Brussels]] or [[Antwerpen]]. Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]: Average wait of about 10 minutes and you should accept every ride that takes you further on the Belgian N2. Just before Bilzen you can hitch-hike at the roundabout towards Hasselt and further into Belgium.  
  
 
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[[Category:Limburg|Limburg]]
 
[[Category:Limburg|Limburg]]
 
[[Category:E25]]
 
[[Category:E25]]
[[nl:Maastricht]]
 

Revision as of 15:39, 12 October 2017

Maastricht
<map lat='50.84930707388861' lng='5.700874328613281' zoom='12' view='3'/>
Information
Country:
Flag of Netherlands
Netherlands
Province:
Flag Limburg.png
Limburg
Population: 117,548
Major roads: A2, A79
More info: Hitchbase
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots

Maastricht is the most southern city of the Netherlands, located in the province of Limburg.

Hitchhiking out

As to 2017, getting out of Maastricht seems to be the hardest part of any journey. Roaming Pencil has managed to get out every time, but it usually took at least an hour of waiting (in any direction).

North towards Eindhoven (A2) E 25, east towards Heerlen, Aachen (Germany) (A79)

See below, under East towards Gulpen, Aachen (N278) for an alternate route. The construction along here in 2016 is crazy.

There was a liftershalte, a special spot for hitchhiking, at the beginning of the A2 near the soccer stadium De Geusselt (Viaductweg x N2/A2). With the upgrade of the N2 to A2 this liftershalte was removed.

Hitchhiking this direction is not always very easy. There is no obvious spot. Here are a few suggestions.

1. Traffic lights at west end of the Terblijterweg, where it connects with the N2/A2 motorway, close to the Geusselt football stadium. You really have to go to the traffic lights, which requires 150 meter of walking illegally along the Terblijterweg which is closed for pedestrians. Once at the traffic lights it should not take more than a few minutes to get a ride, pref. use a sign A2 or A79 / Heerlen. Personal experience of Fverhart: a good spot, police would send you away but it is unlikely that you need to wait long if you know what you're doing! Personal experience of rainboat: We waited here for nearly an hour, carrying a sign saying A2.

2. Crossroad Meerssenerweg / Viaductweg where you can ask rides at the traffic lights. Personal experience of Fverhart: works but not all traffic goes the A2. Sign A2 or A79 / Heerlen can help. Roaming Pencil always waits here for at least an hour, whether she's hitchhiking north or west, but eventually it works. Not sure whether this spot is possible now with the roadworks.

3. Just before A2-access lane Maastricht-Randwyck at the road Oeslingerbaan, on the bridge over the A2. There is a hard shoulder on the bridge on which a driver can easily stop. A sign Heerlen is recommended here if you are going there or into Germany, passing by or going to Aachen. Bus 1 and 6 (direction De Heeg) stop nearby at busstop Oeslingerbaan/Langendaal. http://goo.gl/maps/430rZ. Personal experience of Fverhart: An average wait of 20 minutes, a sign A2 or A79 / Heerlen helps. Police may send you away here. Easiest way to get on the bridge is from BP petrol station walk behind the safety rail along Oeslingerbaan.

4. New access lane of the A2-motorway on the junction Kruisdonk, near Rothem. Drivers can stop at the access lane on a hard shoulder beside the driving lane. To get here from the city you can take bus line 59 or 159 until busstop "Kruispunt" in Rothem, then walk south along Ambyerweg / cycling path for 500 meters. Personal experience of Fverhart: despite a lot of space on the access lane waiting times are rather long. You can approach cars at the traffic light at the exit lane, many of them are crossing the road and driving up the A2. Everybody can take you to the next petrol station.

5. Hitchhiking north through Belgium - somewhere along Brusselseweg. Aim for Maasmechelen - if you reach the N78, it goes back into the Netherlands and meets the A2/E25 after the black hole of hitchhiking out of Maastricht is over.
Generally, if you are heading for Germany passing by or going to Aachen you should aim for a ride to Heerlen, where you can hitchhike again on the N281 towards Aachen. Standing on the motorway junction just before Heerlen should be avoided, because it is not allowed to stand there.

Tmoon hitching out of Maastricht

East towards Gulpen, Aachen (N278/"Cadier en Keer")

Take the bus #53 or #54 from the center towards Akersteenweg (you can also walk, but it takes a while; cycling is faster). At this bus stop you'll find a petrol station[1]. There you can try to get a lift towards Aachen in Germany. You might have to get a few lifts, village to village, along the N278 aka "Cadier en Keer", but you shouldn't ever have to wait very long. Usually a lift to at least Vaals, which is right before the border and Aachen, is possible.

South towards Liege (A2) E 25

Follow the rail track from the central station out of the town in a southern direction from the backside exit (use the bridge over the rails). At the first rail/road crossing south of the station hike on over the cycling path and later, still by the side of the railway, over Sint Gerardusweg. Follow this way until the end, thus you walk under a bridge (John F. Kennedysingel). This is the junction Europaplein. Keep walking 100 meters ahead to the motorway ramp. Average wait is about 10 minutes, max. 30 minutes. Longer rides are not common. Petrol station between Maastricht and Liège (still in the Netherlands) is not very busy, but can give longer rides into France. Knowing the good spots in Liège to hitch-hike is a good idea.

West towards Hasselt, Antwerpen, Leuven, Brussels (Belgian N2)

Best place towards Hasselt is at or just after the traffic lights at the crossing of Via Regia and Canteleerstraat, the first crossing after the traffic square Via Regia. Expect short rides to Veldwezelt, Mopertingen and Bilzen. You will reach the motorway at Diepenbeek or Bilzen, where you can easily get further. All the motorway access lanes in Hasselt are suitable for either Brussels or Antwerpen. Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]: Average wait of about 10 minutes and you should accept every ride that takes you further on the Belgian N2. Just before Bilzen you can hitch-hike at the roundabout towards Hasselt and further into Belgium.


trash:Maastricht