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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 Carsharing * [[Antwerpen]] (eurostopFrench: ''Anvers'', Dutch: ''Antwerpen'', German: ''Anwerpen'')* [[Bruges|Brugge]] (French: ''Bruges'', Dutch: ''Brugge'', German: ''Brügge'')* [[Gent]] (French: ''Gand'', Dutch: ''Gent'', German: ''Gent'')* [[Hasselt]] (''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'')

In Flanders == 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 (north), the public transport company is [http://wwwusually between EUR 0.delijn30 and 0.70) sometimes includes a voucher that can be/ DeLijn] which complete used in the train services into restaurant. However, it is easy to jump over the rural towns barrier and inside use the toilet for free. The cheapest supermarkets in the urbanised areascountry are ''Lidl'', ''Aldi'' and ''Colruyt'', and food bought in them will be significantly cheaper than on motorway services. It is possible to buy a 'LijnKaart' 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 saves you will offer better prices than the night stores. Note that in Belgium most shops close at 18:00 and very few shops are open on the cost of local transportSundays.

In [[Brussels]]There are few free public toilets around, public transport are provided by and you might even be charged in places like McD's. It is best to avoid the touristic areas when looking for a free toilet and aim at the [http://wwwless obvious places such as big chain hotels (Radisson.stib.be/index.htm?guest_user=guest_en STIB/MIVB]. There again ), public buildings (libraries and schools) and some café's where you can buy use the toilet without being spot by the staff who might request you to pay a 5 or 10 journeys ticket. Note that buying your ticket inside fee up to 50 cents, although many will allow you to use the bus/tram costs toilet if you more. More details will be added regarding Public Transport ask them in [[Brussels]] on the city page itself.English!

In Wallonia Belgium is famous for its frietkoten. These are small restaurants or shacks, that sell French fries (southa Belgian dish mind you! Protip: Make sure you don't call them French fries, but just fries. Because some will lecture you about fries not being french.)and all sorts of snacks for relatively low prices. It's not very healthy, the regional bus company but for EUR 5 you can have quite a big meal which is [http://wwwbigger & cheaper then McD's.infotecEvery village has a frietkot, and every city has at least one in every neighborhood.be/index.aspx?PageId=631734023237830544&Language=english TEC]

== Useful links ==<!-- * The [http://enAlso make sure you try out the beer.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motorways_in_Belgium List Belgians have the most and best types of motorways beer in Belgium] on wikipedia contains useful information. -->* [http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_Belgische_autosnelwegen The Dutch Wikipedia] contains much more useful information than the English Wikipedia (even you donworld, and often it'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]ll be cheaper then water or soda.

[[Category:Western Europe]]