Changes

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). === North towards [[Eindhoven]] (A2) {{AutobahnE|225}} , 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.'' 

Hitchhiking this direction is not always very easy. There is no obvious spot. Here are a few possibilitiessuggestions.  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, including pref. use a very new onesign A2 or A79 / Heerlen. From best Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]]: a good spot, police would send you away but it is unlikely that you need to worst 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. 2. Crossroad Meerssenerweg / Viaductweg where you can raise your thumb on these placesask 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. [[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.

<li> New 3. Just before A2-access lane of Maastricht-Randwyck at the A2-motorway road Oeslingerbaan, on the junction Kruisdonk, near [[Rothem]]bridge over the A2. Drivers can stop at the access lane on There is a hard shoulder beside on the driving lanebridge on which a driver can easily stop. To get A sign Heerlen is recommended here from the city if you can take bus line 59 are going there or into Germany, passing by or 159 until going to Aachen. Bus 1 and 6 (direction De Heeg) stop nearby at busstop "Kruispunt" in RothemOeslingerbaan/Langendaal. http://goo.gl/maps/430rZ. Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]]: An average wait of 20 minutes, then 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 south behind the safety rail along Ambyerweg / cycling path for 500 metersOeslingerbaan.

<li> Just before A2-4. New access lane Maastrichtof the A2-Randwyck motorway on the junction Kruisdonk, near Rothem. Drivers can stop at the road Oeslingerbaan, access lane on a hard shoulder beside the bridge over driving lane. To get here from the A2city you can take bus line 59 or 159 until busstop "Kruispunt" in Rothem, then walk south along Ambyerweg / cycling path for 500 meters. There is hard shoulder Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]]: despite a lot of space on the bridge where a car coming from 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 west A2. Everybody can easily stoptake 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.<libr /> Crossroad Meerssenerweg / Viaductweg Generally, if you are heading for [[Germany]] passing by or going to [[Aachen]] you should aim for a ride to [[Heerlen]], where you can ask rides at hitchhike again on the traffic lights, or at N281 towards [[Aachen]]. Standing on the Terblijterwegmotorway junction just before [[Heerlen]] should be avoided, in front of the Geusselt football stadium, with so so space for a car because it is not allowed to stopstand there.

=== 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[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]] (A2) {{AutobahnE|225}}===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 and you will arrive at a motorway entrance on (John F. Kennedysingel). This is the junction named Europaplein; some hundreds of . Keep walking 100 meters further on at ahead to the other side of the railway motorway ramp. Average wait is the railway about 10 minutes, max. 30 minutes. Longer rides are not common. Petrol station between Maastricht Randwyck. If you stand at the corner of the road across from the sign pointing at and Liège (still in the A2/Luik (LiegeNetherlands) you will get a liftis not very busy, but can give longer rides into France. [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]]'s average waiting time here Knowing the good spots in Liège to hitch-hike is 11 minutes for a ride to Liegegood 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.