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Aachen
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{{Infobox German Location
|map = <map lat="50.775160245564" lng="6.082352042177" zoom="10" view="3" float="right" />
|country = Germany
|pop = 258,770 (31 Dec 2006)
|motorways = [[A4 (Germany)|A4]], [[A44 (Germany)|A44]], [[A544 (Germany)|A544]]
}}
'''Aachen''' is a city in [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], [[Germany]], close to the [[Netherlands]] and [[Belgium]].
== Hitching Out ===== West South towards [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], East towards [[KölnEifel]] region ===There is a nice [[petrol station]], ''Aachener Land'', on the A4, not too far east of Aachen. It is good for heading towards Netherlands or Belgium, while the other side offers good opportunities to hitch towards almost any region in [[Germany]]. The fastest way to get there is by taking a bus #52 from the ''Busbahnhof''. It stops close to the [[service area]]. It should be also mentioned that there are good chances of meeting ticket controllers while on that bus; in addition, you have to show your ticket to the driver when entering the bus (although generally you can show anything looking like a ticket and probably get away with it). Another option is to start hitchhiking from ''Europaplatz'' just where the cars enter the motorway from a [[roundabout]]. When going East (direction Köln), leave ''Aachener Land'' behind you. When going West, step out at the petrol station and do a little walk over the bridge nearby to cross the motorway.
== Hitchhiking In ==
If heading towards the Netherlands you have several options. The first is to hitchhike to the traffic lights at the main motorway exit at Geleen from the ''Achener Land'' service station (perfect if you are with people that are going directly to Maastricht). Otherwise, one can walk from Aachen being dropped of at the central bus terminal ''Ponttor'' while in Aachen for about two kilometers up the Bushof''Roermonderstrasse''. There are some petrol stations where you can find is a Dutch drivergood idea. If you are going to [[Maastricht]] you can also go to ''Vaalserstrasse'' or take a bus to ''Vaals''Most buses come through there, but this is not the main train station. The roundabout at the West end of Vaals, for instanceOtherwise, if your driver is a good place only passing by the city your best option to hitchhikeget off depends on the direction.
Don't drop yourself at the Dutch petrol station (Shell) near borderpoint Vetschau. It was very difficult to find a ride just to Aachen and I stucked there for 3 hours in Feb 2018. There is also NO train-station in the next village Bochholtz (like in some maps), but at least some bus-services to Aachen.
=== A4 from/to east (Cologne) ===
When your driver is passing by on the A4 it is a good idea to get out at the autobahn service station ''Aachener Land'' and take the bus 52 to the center (see [[Aachen#Hitchhiking Out|Hitchhiking Out]]). Buses to Aachen go weekdays every half hour between 5:00 and 20:30 and hourly until 23:30. Saturday service is from 5:30 until 23:30 and sunday service is between 8:30 and 23:30.
=== A44 from/to south (Belgium) ===
On the A44 from/to Belgium, get dropped off at the exit #3 ''Aachen Brand''. You can use the frequent bus service at any time from there to the center (2,40 Euro as of January 2012) or try to hitchhike. Your driver can get back on the highway easily.
== Public transportation ==
Check [http://www.aseag.de/ the website of the local bus operator ASEAG] for bus informations. There is no english page but you can just input your request on the top right. Input the start city (e.g. ''Aachen'') and station (e.g. ''Bushof'', the main bus terminal) and the same for the destination in the second row. The results are understandable without knowing German.
People with monthly tickets and job tickets can take you along for free in buses and regional RE trains on weekdays from 19:00 until 3:00 and on the whole weekend within the area of their validity. Feel free to ask around.
== Other useful info ==
There are quite a few [[police]] controls around Aachen, so make sure you are not bringing any drugs from the Netherlands to Germany as you might get controlled. Controls are for sure for buses, cars and even bicycles. Bus lines from the NL are being controlled, especially the line 50 from Maastricht if you get out at the main train station. Cars are more likely to be controlled if they have registration plates from other cities than Aachen.
== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
{{nomadwiki}}
[[Category:North Rhine-Westphalia|North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:E40]]
[[Category:Germany]]
[[de:Aachen]]