Difference between revisions of "Rotterdam"

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There is a great spot directly north of the central Station. It is about a 25 minute walk or take tram #25 in the direction of ''Schiebroek'' until the stop ''Schieweg'', which is just before the tram goes up onto a bridge over the motorway. Continue walking in the same direction on the right-hand side. During peak hours the traffic is very heavy and is slowed down by traffic lights feeding the traffic onto the motorway at intervals. There is a small parking area, so drivers have ample room to stop.
 
There is a great spot directly north of the central Station. It is about a 25 minute walk or take tram #25 in the direction of ''Schiebroek'' until the stop ''Schieweg'', which is just before the tram goes up onto a bridge over the motorway. Continue walking in the same direction on the right-hand side. During peak hours the traffic is very heavy and is slowed down by traffic lights feeding the traffic onto the motorway at intervals. There is a small parking area, so drivers have ample room to stop.
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Another spot is on the A16. Take the Metro to ''Kralingse Zoom'' and walk south down the Kralingse Zoom and then left at the Abram van Rijckevorselweg until you get to a huge roundabout with an on-road. There's a lot of space for cars to stop and a lot of traffic, but getting on the other side of the roundabout can be a tad dangerous and it's probably technically speaking illegal to stand there. A sign is a must.
  
 
Most cars are heading to [[Utrecht]]. To get to [[Germany]] you could try your luck with a ''D'' sign or first try towards [[Arnhem]] for [[Köln]] and [[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]] from a service area (the border service areas are large with high traffic volume).
 
Most cars are heading to [[Utrecht]]. To get to [[Germany]] you could try your luck with a ''D'' sign or first try towards [[Arnhem]] for [[Köln]] and [[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]] from a service area (the border service areas are large with high traffic volume).

Revision as of 00:59, 8 July 2011

Rotterdam
<map lat='51.92' lng='4.452' zoom='12' view='3'/>
Information
Country:
Flag of Netherlands
Netherlands
Province:
Flag Zuid Holland.png
Zuid Holland
Population: 584,046
Major roads: A13, A15, A16, A20, A29
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots

Rotterdam (often abbreviated R'dam, which makes for nicer signs) is a city in the Netherlands in the province of Zuid Holland.

Hitchhiking out

East towards Utrecht, Arnhem, Apeldoorn, Amersfoort, Germany (A20) E 25

There is a great spot directly north of the central Station. It is about a 25 minute walk or take tram #25 in the direction of Schiebroek until the stop Schieweg, which is just before the tram goes up onto a bridge over the motorway. Continue walking in the same direction on the right-hand side. During peak hours the traffic is very heavy and is slowed down by traffic lights feeding the traffic onto the motorway at intervals. There is a small parking area, so drivers have ample room to stop.

Another spot is on the A16. Take the Metro to Kralingse Zoom and walk south down the Kralingse Zoom and then left at the Abram van Rijckevorselweg until you get to a huge roundabout with an on-road. There's a lot of space for cars to stop and a lot of traffic, but getting on the other side of the roundabout can be a tad dangerous and it's probably technically speaking illegal to stand there. A sign is a must.

Most cars are heading to Utrecht. To get to Germany you could try your luck with a D sign or first try towards Arnhem for Köln and Frankfurt from a service area (the border service areas are large with high traffic volume).

To get to Hamburg, Hannover, Berlin or for try Apeldoorn/A1 for a service area on the A1. This will also bring you onto the Amsterdam-Copenhagen route.

Tip: Stand in a position where the street sign does not come between you and the drivers' view.

File:Rdamtowardseast.jpg
The hitchhiking point for Utrecht and points further east.

West towards Hoek van Holland and ferries to England

Information required

South towards Dordrecht, Breda, Antwerp, Lille (A16) E 19

Take tram line 21 (direction De Esch) to the Woudestein stop. Once in Woudestein you need to follow the big road in front of you. Keep walking in the direction of the Erasmus university. If looking for rides at traffic lights is your thing, then there's plenty of opportunity on the way. But if not, keep on going until you reach the motorway which crosses in front of you. It's about a 15 minute walk.

The spot is the motorway sliproad which has an additional lane for cars to safely pull over. As far as this type of spot goes it isn't bad, and there's also possible shelter under the bridge. Traffic density is quite high but unfortunately so is the speed of the traffic. It's best to have a sign here because although traffic can only be going north or south, there are plentiful exits on the way.

Public transportation

About 99.99% of trams will have a ticket inspector. However for most of the journey they are too busy chatting to the conductor or enjoying the view. Board the tram at the rear and have 1.60 euro ready to pay. The inspector (wearing an ugly yellow and black jacket with green, red and purple stripes) will have to walk the length of the entire tram checking tickets before he/she reaches you. Hopefully you have reached the stop by this time, if not just give the inspector the 1.60 euro for the ticket as though you were waiting to buy one from them. This is common practice.


Sleeping

If you take tram 23 from Rotterdam Central to the stop P+R Beverwaard in the Ijsselmonde suburb, there is some small forest along a bike trail parallel to the A16/E19 motorway where you could put up a tent.

Internet

Most McDonalds restaurants in the city have wi-fi and, if you are discreet, you can use them without buying anything. The central library also has free wi-fi. Get a "guest pass" from the machine on the ground floor and log in with the details printed on it (the library connection, however, blocks everything but port 80 -- that is, except simple web browsing). trash:Rotterdam