Maastricht
Maastricht
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| <map lat='50.84930707388861' lng='5.700874328613281' zoom='12' view='3'/> | |
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| Information | |
Country:  |
Netherlands |
Province:  |
Limburg |
| Population: | 117,548 |
| Major roads: | A2, A79 |
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Maastricht is the most southern city of the Netherlands, located in the province of Limburg.
Contents
Hitchhiking out
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 N 281 towards Aachen. Standing on the motorway junction just before Heerlen should be avoided, because it is not allowed to stand there. When heading north on (A 2 or A 73) it's allright to start with a simple A2 sign. A great onramp to find a next ride is exit Urmond, taken also by all drivers heading for Sittard. A sign won't be of help there as drivers are bound for Roermond or Eindhoven and all could drop you at the upcoming service stations: Shell Swentibold or Esso Bosserhof.
North towards Eindhoven A 2 E 25, east towards Heerlen, Aachen (Germany) A 79
Option 1, Maastricht-Centrum Noord
Coordinates: 50.8580, 5.7142 Google OSM
Onramp N 2 Maastricht-Centrum Noord at the west end of Terblijterweg. Onramp can be reached on foot from Stadionplein. Hard shoulder.
Option 2, Maastricht-Randwyck
Coordinates: 50.8310, 5.7196 Google OSM
Onramp A 2 Maastricht-Randwyck. Either stand at the onramp, or on the bridge over the A2. There is a hard shoulder. Use sign A2 for going north, Heerlen for going east. Bus 1 and 2 (direction De Heeg) stop nearby at busstop Oeslingerbaan/Langendaal.
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.
Option 3, Junction Kruisdonk
Coordinates: 50.8729, 5.7355 Google OSM
Going north
Coordinates: 50.8723, 5.7365 Google OSM
Going east
Access lane of the A 2 on the junction Kruisdonk, near Rothem. Hard shoulder. 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 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.
Option 4, Brusselseweg
Coordinates: 50.8589, 5.6717 Google OSM
Stand somewhere on Brusselseweg. After Maasmechelen you get to the N78, wich goes back into the Netherlands and and turns into the N 273, and meet up with the A 2.
East towards Gulpen, Aachen
Coordinates: 50.8421, 5.7397 Google OSM
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. You might have to get a few lifts, village to village, along the N 278 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. Towards Aachen it may be quicker to go via Heerlen.
South towards Liege (A2) E 25
Coordinates: 50.8410, 5.7161 Google OSM
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)
Coordinates: 50.8551, 5.6602 Google OSM
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 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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> 500.000: Amsterdam • Rotterdam
300.000-500.000: Den Haag • Utrecht
150.000–300.000: Eindhoven • Tilburg • Almere • Nijmegen • Groningen
100.000–150.000: Amersfoort • Apeldoorn • Arnhem • Breda • Dordrecht • Enschede • Haarlem • 's-Hertogenbosch • Leiden • Maastricht • Zoetermeer • Zwolle
If you search cities with less than 100.000 inhabitants, have a look at the seperate Provinces articles. You find them at the bottom of this page.
