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Brussels
,→North towards Antwerp, Breda, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Amsterdam A12 or {{E|19}}
{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}
{{Infobox Location
|country = Belgium
|motorways = [[A1 (Belgium)|A1]], [[A3 (Belgium)|A3]], [[A4 (Belgium)|A4]], [[A7 (Belgium)|A7]], [[A10 (Belgium)|A10]], [[A12 (Belgium)|A12]], [[A201 (Belgium)|A201]], [[R0 (Belgium)|R0]],
}}
__TOC__ '''Brussels''' ( is the capital of [[France|FrenchBelgium]]: . Brussels is a very international city. == Hitching in == If you do not encounter a driver that goes inside the city, but takes the Northern Ring around the city, you can ask them to pull off the motorway (E40) at Exit #7a/7b ''Bruxelles(Chaussee Romaine/Parc des Expositions/Tentoonstellingspark)''(basically, [[Netherlands|Dutch]]: the Atomium and Heysel Stadium area) or at Exit #8 ''Brussel(Wemmel)''. At both exits drivers can immediately rejoin the motorway at the sliproad opposite the exit. === East === If you do not encounter a driver that goes inside the city, [[Germany|German]] but instead takes the northern ring road around the city, you can ask them to pull off the motorway (E19) at junction 7a/7b ''Brüssel(Chaussee Romaine/Parc des Expositions/Tentoonstellingspark)''(basically, [[Poland|Polish]]: the Atomium and Heysel Stadium area) or at junction 8 ''Bruksela(Wemmel)''. At both exits, [[Latvia]]n: drivers can immediately rejoin the motorway from the slip road opposite the exit. From the exits, you simply have to walk towards the Expo park to take tram 23, 81, or 94; or Metro 6 from stations ''Koning Boudewijn'' or ''Heysel'Brisele'. Alternatively, you might also ask to be left at the service station on the E40 in Leuven, before the ring road around Brussels, with the idea of catching a local ride that would get you into town. This might be necessary if your driver goes up along the E19 to Antwerp, as there won't be any places for him to drop you off. === Northwest === If you arrive from the northwest (Gent) , you can ask to be dropped at the Services in Groot-Bijgaarden which is 2.5km before the capital ring of [[Belgium]] Brussels along the E40 from where you can walk to Zellik and catch bus 213 or 214 to the [[Europe]]an capital. Brussels is centre, or try to hitch a very international cityride into town. While still walking around in If your ride only takes the western ring road (E19), (from Gent or the center south), you might can ask to be able dropped off at Junction 16 on the E19, from where it is walking distance to spot some cars the metro 1b stations ''Eddy Merckx'' or ''Ceria''. === South === If you coming in from other countriesthe south and the driver is heading to the east of Brussels, ask to be dropped off at Delta. For instance, when If the driver is heading to [[Paris]]the west of Brussels, check the French numberplates with 75 or 90-something ask to be dropped off at E19 junction at Drogenbos. It comes right after Ruisbroek service station (Paris Total). Walk five minutes and its suburbs)you’ll be at the beginning of tram line 4 going to the centre.
== Hitchhiking out ==
=== North-West towards [[Gent]], [[Brugge]], [[England]], ([[Lille]]) {{E|40}} ===
==== Option 1: Petrol stations at Baselix Shopping Centre ====
==== Option 2: Start of E40 ====
Take tram 82 from the Gare du Midi in direction of ''Berchem'' until the stop ''Berchem Shopping''. From there turn left and walk up the Av. Charles Quint for about 200 meters and you are at the beginning of the E40 in the direction of Gent. Just hitch after the traffic lights, where there is space for a car to pull over behind you. The circulation is dense but cars can easily pull over and get back on the road quite safely. You can also reach this spot by the following the directions in Option 1 and then continue walking 400m west along the main road R20. This spot was last successfully used on August 22nd, 2010.
==== Option 3: Motorway service station Groot Bijgaarden ====
The cheapest way: from bus-stop ''Brussel Rogier'', take De Lijn bus 213 or 214 (direction Aalst) and get off at bus-stop ''Zellik Drie Koningen''. Cross over the street and walk back 50m in the direction from where the bus came to the roundabout. Turn into the first street to the right (Kerklaan) and walk 200m. Turn left into Theodoor Coppensstraat and walk ≈650m till you come to the junction with Louis De Bondstraat. Take a left here (south) and walk 400m until you reach a road on the right (Dilbeek Noord). Walk ≈300m and you will reach the service station. This spot works extremely well, but it takes some times to get there and it's also quite expensive: 2,40€ to get to Gare du Nord (blackriding the tram is easy but metro is hard) plus 3€ for the De Lijn bus (you enter the bus right at the front so you cannot blackride). Many people also take this route to go to [[Lille]] and [[Paris]], and there's probably more traffic on this road than on the option going towards Charleroi and Mons.
=== South-West towards [[Charleroi]], [[Mons (Bergen)|Mons]], [[Lille]], [[Paris]] {{E|19}} ===
==== Option 1: E19 Motorway junction Drogenbos ====
At the Drogenbos Motorway exit motorway junction, there is a [http://maps.google.be/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=nl&geocode=&q=stalle+prolongee&sll=50.792373,4.316597&sspn=0.045358,0.110378&g=drogenbos&ie=UTF8&ll=50.792468,4.304082&spn=0.001329,0.003449&t=h&z=18&iwloc=traffic light under the motorway bridge]. As cars need to wait to turn left to get on the highway, its possible to ask drivers to take you south, or to the [http://goo.gl/maps/fBvgQ=next petrol station on the motorway], which is 1.5 km further. Take bus 50 (direction Lot) to Gilson leaving from Brussels Gare du Midi/Zuidstation. This takes about 20 minutes. Walk southeast along Paul Gilsonlaan, then follow the road round onto Grote Baan to the junction with Verlengde Stallestraat. Turn right (west) and walk ≈250m to the traffic light under the motorway. Altogether the walk is ≈500m and takes five minutes.
Or take tram 4 ([http://m.stib.be/line.php?lang=fr&line=4&iti=1STIB]) till the terminus ([http://maps. Take bus '''google.be/maps?q=stalle+prolongee&hl=nl&ll=50''' (direction '''Lot''' station) to '''Gilson''' leaving from Brussels Gare du Midi/Zuidstation. This takes about 20 minutes795375,4.318566&spn=0.000895,0.001725&sll=50. From here you can easily follow the road792373, alongside the massive shopping area4.316597&sspn=0.045358, to the highway0. You will find yourself at 110378&t=h&hnear=Verlengde+Stallestraat,+Vlaams-Brabant&z=19 Stalle]), then walk further towards the motorway exits along Rue Prolongée de Stalle/Verlengde Stallestraat (with some massive shops) till you reach the traffic lights in five minutesunderneath the motorway bridge.
==== Option 2: Ruisbroek Petrol Station ====
To get directly on the Ruisbroek Petrol Station (which is located on the western part of the ring), you need to take bus '''50''' (direction '''Lot''' station) from Brussels Midi Station to '''Ruisbroek Voetbalplein'''. This takes about half an hour. From here you walk straight and turn the second to the left (into Hemelstraat) and follow this till the end. Go left into Broekweg and follow your way onto the petrol station. Another option is taking the local train from one of Brussels' railway stations (e.g. Centrale or Midi) to Ruisbroeck for 2,40€ (ticket at the machine). From there you can also walk (allow 30 min). EIther way, you biggest obstacle ist the ditch around the rest station which you have to traverse. It usually filled with water and can be a slippery thing. However, there is/was a tree trunk placed in the ditch which you can use to get to the other side. It's close to the petrol station. If you cross here you will also find a hole in the fence where you can pass through.
==== Option 3: Internationalelaan/Boulevard International ====
==== Option 4: E19 Motorway junction 17 (Ceria/Coovi) ====
Another option to take metro yellow line '''5''' (direction '''Érasme/Erasmus''') and get off at '''CERIA/COOVI'''. Walk Chaussée de Mons/Bergensesteenweg down south (you can ask people the direction of Ikea). Some 150 meters from the metro station you will see a bridge. Go down across the bridge, there you will see entrance (consisting of 3 lanes from 3 different directions) to the motorway in direction of Mons/Paris. 5 km further there will be a big '''Total''' petrol station called '''Ruisbroek''', there you will easily find a ride further to the south.
==== Option 5: Delta (South-East) ====
Although '''Delta''' is mostly known as the best spot to get to Louvain-la-Neuve then Namur and Luxembourg along the E411 (see below), it can very well be suited to get on the E19 (Nivelles, Charleroi or Mons, then Paris, or even Lille). [[abyssin]] successfully hitchhiked from there 10+ times. If used properly, this option beats Drogenbos in many cases. Using a sign on this spot is mandatory as drivers are used to see hitchhikers going to Louvain-la-Neuve (E411 rather than E19). After several trials, “'''Nivelles'''” proves to be the best thing to write on your sign (this is important). Unless your driver goes further, which is often the case, ask to be dropped at rest area of Nivelles 30 minutes from Brussels (the one with the Total petrol station and a restaurant that is built across the highway).
The spot has direct access from the '''exit no. 4 of metro station Delta on line 5''' (15 minutes ride from the city center).
VUB and ULB students or hitchhikers leaving from Ixelles have a reason to prefer this option as it will save them time compared to reaching Stalle stop (Drogenbos) by tram 4.
Alternatively, you can ask drivers directly at the petrol station Lukoil (30 minutes on average). On the contrary, Texaco petrol station’s staff, on boulevard du Triomphe, has proven to be very unfriendly to hitchhikers once, threatening to call the cops.
=== Southeast towards [[Louvain-la-Neuve]], [[Namur]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Lyon]], [[Strasbourg|Strasbourg]], [[Geneve]] {{E|411}} ===
The E411 to Luxembourg is a recommended direction to head further South. This option should probably also be considered to go the South if you want to avoid [[Paris]]. Because petrol is a lot cheaper in Luxembourg you can easily find long rides at the petrol station in Luxembourg before the border.
==== Option 1: Delta ====
One of the historically well-known places by local hitchhikers, '''Delta''' is on the way towards [[Louvain-La-Neuve]] (student town) and is situated right at the exit no. 4 of metro station Delta (15 minutes from the centre), next to the Delta bus depot. To get there, take '''metro line 5''' direction '''Herrmann-Debroux''', or '''bus 71 to Delta'''. It is common to bump into one or two other (student) hitchhikers there. There's a petrol station (Lukoil) next to the metro station where you won't wait more than five minutes on a Sunday morning if you say you're a student. Historical note: as Louvain-la-Neuve is a student town, and Delta is at the entrance of the motorway and next to the VUB/ULB (Brussels university), many students used to hitchhike that route.
==== Option 2: Station Beaulieu in Ixelles ====
To get to metro station '''Beaulieu''' in Ixelles, take '''line 5 direction Herrmann-Debroux'''. You will notice many cars stopping at traffic lights just before the station. This road connects with the motorway towards the South. Some hitchhiker got a lift in less than 2 minutes. There is a big service station 10 minutes down the road if needed for further lifts. ====Option 3: Demey==== Take the metro to the station Demey and find a direct entrance to the highway right next to the station. There is a pavement, so you can hitchhike safely. === South towards [[Waterloo]] N5 ===
=== Northeast or East, towards [[Leuven]], [[Antwerpen|Antwerp]], [[Liège|Liege]], [[Germany]], [[Netherlands]] {{E|40}} / {{E|314}} ===
'''Option 45.''' The best way to leave the city fast and in the right direction is going past the ring road. So, if you're ok to pay the public transport, take the [https://www.delijn.be/fr/lijnen/lijn/3/351/2 De Lijn bus 351] from the train station Brussels-North and stop at [http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/50.8744/4.4931 Nossegem - Centrum] (it takes 30 minutes and cost 3 euros). Walk a few metres in the direction of the bus and you reach a big crossroad where the highway is announced. Follow the sign and turn right to find a very comfortable point to hitchhike to [[Leuven]] or [[Liège|Liege]].
===North towards [[Antwerpen|Antwerp]], [[Breda]], [[Rotterdam]], [[Utrecht]], [[Amsterdam]] A12 or {{E|19}} = Antwerpselaan ===='''Option 1.''' Take tram #3, #19 or #23 and get off at ''De Wand'' or ''Esplanade'' (#4). Walk along the Avenue de Meysse up to the Antwerpselaan, crossing the Romeinsesteenweg. You can hitch along the Antwerpselaan and catch a car that would get onto the motorway at exit #2 of the A12.
'''Option 21.''' Take metro line #'''6''' in direction of Koning Boudewijn/Roi Baudoin and get off at Heysel. Take Keizerin Charlottelaan/Avenue Impératrice Charlotte to the right in direction of Brussels Expo. Continue Avenue de Miramar (so don't go to the atomium) and turn left at the end where you will see the highway A12 in front of you. Take the next to the right and go under the bridge. Start hitchhiking just after the bridge at the street on your left (Antwerpselaan).
== Extra Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==If you like to have a chat, free coffee or tea or free computer access, be sure to visit ''Use-it, Tourist Info For Young Travellers''.They also have a wide variety of free maps and the best tips what to do and where to hang out in Brussels. Check out: [www.use-it.be]{{nomadwiki}}
[[Category:E19]]
[[Category:E40]]
[[Category:E411]]
[[de:Brüssel]]
[[fr:Bruxelles]]