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{{infobox Country|country = Belgium|map = <map lat='50.8146124199899953' lng='4.4165039062544' zoom='7' view='0' floatwidth='360' height='310' country='rightBelgium' />|language = Dutch, French, German|capital = [[Brussels]]|pop = 11,007,020|currency = Euro (€)|hitch = <rating country='be' />|BW = BE}}'''Belgium''' is a small country between , clockwise from the North, the [[FranceNetherlands]], the [[NetherlandsGermany]], [[GermanyLuxembourg]] and [[LuxembourgFrance]]. It is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]].The country is divided into a Dutch speaking part in the North ([[Flanders]]), and a French speaking part in the South (WalloniaWallonie) and a tiny German speaking part in the East . [[Brussels]], the country and european CapitalEuropean capital, has a bilingual status. In Flanders most people will be able to help you out easily in English. In French speaking Belgium English is quite a bit less commonly spoken, but on the whole people will be able to help you out (especially younger people).

Hitch-hiking in the country is usually in general fairly easy within , and, due to the high number of foreigners working in the country and to reach abroad, getting a ride out of the country is usually just as easy. The country has one of the most dense road and motorway networks in Europe which can makes make it slightly complex when trying to find a direct route to a destination. Still, hitching out of a city or moving from on-ramp to on-ramp is usually fairly simple.

The best places to start are the roundabouts near the entrance of the main highways (such spots can be found very easily in [[Oostende]], [[Liège]], [[Louvain-la-Neuve]] and [[Namur]]).

Belgium has a very high density of gas petrol stations and service areas on the motorways. This makes it easier to find one, but also leads to less traffic on a single service area. Because of its bilingual status, it could be helpful to aboard a driver approach drivers in its their native language. Although there is no specific way to be sure of it beforehandtelling what language a driver speaks, the some solutions are:* To quickly say 'Hi' in both Dutch (dag) or French,(bonjour)* To check up the sticker of the car retailler retailer to notice in what part of the country it has been bought,* To introduce yourself as a foreigner,

Useful tip: Free use of Internet PC's in every many city librarylibraries.Useful tip: Most petrol stations in Belgium are open 24/7, the staff is friendly and you can have a nap during the night, if you end up on the road. However, be careful since the traffic is high all night long, many people stop and some can be drunk.

== Main Cities ==[[ImageFile:NetherlandsHitchhiking-without-canoe-belgium-2013.jpg|thumb|right300px|200px|Leaving for Hitchhiking without a canoe, coming from the [[Netherlands]]Post Hitchgathering 2013 in Houyet]]* [[AntwerpenBrussels]] ''(Anvers, Antwerp)French: ''* [[Bruges]] Bruxelles''(Brugge, Brügge)''* [[Brussels]] Dutch: ''(Bruxelles, Brussel)''* [[Gent]] ''(Gand, Ghent)German: ''* [[Liège]] Brüssel''(Luik, Lüttich)''* [[Namur]]* [[Louvain-la-Neuve]]* [[Leuven]]

== European Carpooling * [[Antwerpen]] (French: ''Anvers'', Dutch: ''Antwerpen'', German: ''Anwerpen'')* [[Bruges|Brugge]] (French: ''Bruges'', Dutch: ''Brugge'', German: ''Brügge'')* [[Gent]] (French: ''Gand'', Dutch: ''Gent'', German: ''Gent'')* [[Hasselt]] (Taxi Stop - Eurostop''idem'')* [[Leuven]] (French: '' ==Louvain'', Dutch: ''Leuven'', German: ''Löwen'')* [[Oostende]] (French: ''Ostende'', Dutch: ''Oostende'', German: ''Ostende'')

* [http[Liège]] (French: ''Liège'', Dutch: ''Luik'', German://www.taxistop.be Taxi Stop''Lüttich'')* [[Charleroi] is an agency that offers carsharing possibilities to drivers in destination or from ] (''idem'')* [[Europe|europeanNamur]] countries as well as passengers looking for a destination. The website is available in English (on the contrary of its French: ''Namur'', Dutch: ''Namen'', German: ''Namur'')* [[Germany|germanMons]] equivalent(French: ''Mons'', Dutch: ''Bergen'', German: ''Mons'') but requires a free subscription account to contact a driver or a passenger. Although the availability listing does not require to log in. This service is called * [[Arlon]] (French: ''Arlon'', Dutch: 'eurostop'Aarlen'' and has a set rule regarding the fees which is pretty simply, German: registration to the service is free of charge, a passenger is simply asked to pay 3€/100km to the driver once at destination.''Arlon'')* [[Louvain-la-Neuve]] (''idem'')

== Public Transport Food & Toilets ==The price of food on motorway services is very high, so try to stock up before leaving and note that very few motorway services have free toilets. The price (usually between EUR 0.30 and 0.70) sometimes includes a voucher that can be used in the restaurant. However, it is easy to jump over the barrier and use the toilet for free. The cheapest supermarkets in the country are ''Lidl'', ''Aldi'' and ''Colruyt'', and food bought in them will be significantly cheaper than on motorway services. ''Carrefour'' and ''Delhaize'' are more expensive options, but are extensively located downtown with longer opening hours (Often 20:00, but not all of them!) which will offer better prices than the convenience stores. Note that in Belgium most shops close at 18:00 and very few shops are open on Sundays.

Public transport There are few free public toilets around, and you might even be charged in places like McD's. It is extensive best to avoid the tourist areas when looking for a free toilet and affordable aim at the less obvious places such as big chain hotels (Radisson...), public buildings (libraries and schools) and some cafés where you can use the toilet without being spotted by the staff who might request you to pay a certain point. fee up to 50 cents, although many will allow you to use the toilet if you ask them in English!

Belgium is famous for its ''frietkoten'Train:'''The . These are small restaurants or stands that sell French fries (a Belgian train ([httpdish mind you! Protip://wwwMake sure you don't call them French fries, but just fries.b-railBecause some will lecture you about fries not being French.be/main/E/index.php SNCB/NMBS] Company reaches ) and all major cities with a regular service. On week end (from Friday after 19h until Sunday evening), the return ticket is reduced sorts of 50% which is good option snacks for a week end evasion within the countryrelatively low prices. The Go-Pass/Rail-Pass is a 10 journeys ticket that allow you to go everywhere in the country (borders excluded). The Go-Pass cost 45€ (so 4It's not very healthy,5€/journey) and is but for the -26, although if wou don't look too old EUR 5 you probably woncan have quite a big meal which is bigger & cheaper then McD't be asked to prove your age. The Rail-Pass cost on the other 69€s. The Go-Pass is Every village has a good option to go from frietkot, and every city has at least one side of the country to another. The Pass is valid for a year from the date of purchasein every neighborhood.

'''Buses/Tram:'''* In Flanders (north), Also make sure you try out the public transport company is [http://wwwbeer.delijn.be/ DeLijn] which complete Belgians have the train services into most and best types of beer in the rural towns world, and inside the urbanised areas. It is possible to buy a often it'LijnKaart' which saves you on the cost of local transportll be cheaper then water or soda.

* In [[Brussels]], public transport are provided by the [http://www.stib.be/index.htm?guest_user=guest_en STIB/MIVB]. There again you can buy a 5 or 10 journeys ticket. Note that buying your ticket inside the bus/tram costs you more. More details will be added regarding Public Transport in [[Brussels]] on the city page itself.= Personal Experiences ==

== Useful links Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==<!-- * The {{nomadwiki}} [httphttps://enwww.wikipediafacebook.orgcom/wikigroups/List_of_motorways_in_Belgium List of motorways 467054706678994/ Facebook group Hitchhiking in Belgiumand the Netherlands] on wikipedia contains useful information. -->* [http {{IsIn|Western Europe}}{{Template://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_Belgische_autosnelwegen The Dutch Wikipedia] contains much more useful information than the English Wikipedia (even you don't read Dutch), with specific information about locations of gas stations, e.g. about the [http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/A13_%28Belgi%C3%AB%29 A13].Regions Belgium}}{{Highways BE}}

[[Category:Western Europe]]