Changes

=== North towards [[Eindhoven]] (and motorway A2) {{E|25}}, east towards [[AachenHeerlen]]/, [[Cologne|KölnAachen]], ([[Germany]]) (A79) ===There was a ''[[liftershalte]]''See below, a special spot for hitchhiking, at the beginning of the [[A2 (Netherlands)|A2]] near the soccer stadium under ''De Geusselt'' (Viaductweg x N2/A2) (direction East towards [[EindhovenGulpen]]) and the , [[A79 (Netherlands)|A79]] (direction [[HeerlenAachen]]). Unfortunately with the upgrade of the N2 to [[A2 (NetherlandsN278)|A2]] this liftershalte was removed! However not far from the stadium there is a small petrol station, and (true to April 2012) there is a good place to stand in front of the stadium on Terblijterweg - the street leading to the N2\A2 crossroads. Bus 3 arrives near the motorway from the central railway station. Get off at the stop ''' for the stadium, right next to the petrol stationan alternate route. A ticket The construction along here in 2016 is 2 Euros and is valid for one hourcrazy.''

It is also possible to use this spot to hitchhike towards the motorway There was a ''[[Aachenliftershalte]] and then on to '', a special spot for hitchhiking, at the beginning of the [[CologneA2 (Netherlands)|KölnA2]] and further. However, it is not always simple to catch somebody crossing near the border soccer stadium ''De Geusselt'' (30-60 minutes waiting-time on averageViaductweg x N2/A2). Some people recommend to catch a lift With the upgrade of the N2 to [[Heerlen]] and then catch another one to [[AachenA2 (Netherlands)|A2]]this liftershalte was removed.

Towards [[Heerlen]] and [[Germany]] you 1. Onramp N2 "Maastricht-Centrum Noord" at the west end of Terblijterweg; can obviously also hike towards the last traffic lights be reached on the roads that lead towards the official hitchhiking spot and ask there for a ride (AC=Aachen)foot from Stadionplein. Hard shoulder. NEWlocation since approx. January 2018.

=== East towards [[Gulpen]], [[Aachen]] ([[Germany]]) ===Take 2. NOT ACCESSIBLE ANYMORE: Since the roadworks on the Maastricht Ring the bus #53 or #54 from cars that are bound to the center towards A2 have a seperate road without room to pull over and don''Akersteenweg''. At this bus t stop you'll find a petrol stationat the traffic light anymore. There Crossroad Meerssenerweg / Viaductweg where you can try to get a lift towards ask rides at the traffic lights. Personal experience of [[AachenUser:Fverhart|Fverhart]] in : works but not all traffic goes the A2. Sign A2 or A79 / Heerlen can help. [[GermanyUser:OlcheMaith|Roaming Pencil]]always waits here for at least an hour, whether she's hitchhiking north or west, but eventually it works.

=== South towards 3. Onramp A2 "Maastricht-Randwyck" or usually better, just before this onramp on the bridge over the A2. Hard shoulder. Sign A2 for going north, Heerlen for going east. Bus 1 and 2 (direction De Heeg) stop nearby at busstop Oeslingerbaan/Langendaal. http://goo.gl/maps/430rZ. Personal experience of [[LiègeUser:Fverhart|LiegeFverhart]] ===: 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.

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)4. At the first rail/road crossing south New access lane of the station hike A2-motorway on over the cycling path and laterjunction Kruisdonk, still by the side of the railway, over Gerarduswegnear Rothem. Hard shoulder. Follow this way Bus line 59 or 159 until the endbusstop "Kruispunt" in Rothem, thus you then walk under south along Ambyerweg / cycling path for 500 meters. Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]]: despite a bridge and you will arrive at a motorway entrance lot of space on the junction named Europaplein; some hundreds of meters further on access lane waiting times rather long. You can approach cars at the other side of the railway is the railway station Maastricht Randwyck. If you stand traffic light at the corner exit lane, many of them are crossing the road across from the sign pointing at and driving up the A2/Luik (Liege) . Everybody can take you will get a liftto 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.<br />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.  When heading north (A2 and/or A73) it's allright to start with a simple "A2" sign. A great onramp to find a next ride is A2 exit Urmond (taken also by all drivers heading for Sittard). A sign again won't be of help there as drivers are bound for Roermond or Eindhoven there (and all could drop you at the upcoming service stations, A2 Shell Swentibold or A2 Esso Bosserhof). [[File:Tmoon.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[User:Tmoon|Tmoon]] hitching out of Maastricht]] === 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[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) {{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:''please add info''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.