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Hitchability`: {{Goodinfobox Country|country = Belgium|map = <map lat='50.53' lng='4.44' zoom='7' view='0' width='360' height='310' country='Belgium' />|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 [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]], [[Luxembourg]] and [[France]]. 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 (Wallonie) and a tiny German speaking part in the East. [[Brussels]], the country and European capital, has a bilingual status. In Flanders most people will be able to {{Very Good}}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).

<map lat='50.81461241998999' lng='4.41650390625' zoom='7' view='0' float='right' country='Belgium' />'''Belgium''' is a small country between [[France]], Hitch-hiking in the [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]] and [[Luxembourg]].The country is divided into a Dutch speaking part in the North (Flanders)general fairly easy, and a French speaking part in , due to the South (Wallonia) and a tiny German speaking part high number of foreigners working in the East . [[Brussels]]country, getting a ride out of the country and european Capital, has a bilingual status.__NOTOC__Hitch-hiking is usually just as easy within the country and to reach abroad. 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 carpooling 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 to create a free subscription account in matter to contact a driver or a passenger. Although the availability and destination 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 simple, 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 License plates ==Belgian license plates do not contain information about where the car comes from. A Belgian license plate is assigned for life to the owner of a car. Usually the plates are white with red text. Cars owned by employees of institutes of the European Union in Brussels and Diplomatic Technical and Administrative Staff have a white plate with blue letters. Diplomatic license plates start with "CD". When Belgians replace their cars, they will keep the same license plate number. Often the name and the city of the garage where the car was bought is indicated just under or at the left side of the license plate on the backside of the car. A license plate of an old timer starts with "O".

Public transport is extensive and affordable at a certain point[[File:Netherlands. jpg|thumb|right|200px|Leaving for the [[Netherlands]]]]

'''Buses/Tram:'''== Food & Toilets ==* In Flanders 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 urbanised areastoilet for free. It is possible to buy a The cheapest supermarkets in the country are ''Lidl'', ''Aldi'' and ''Colruyt'LijnKaart' which saves you , and food bought in them will be significantly cheaper than on the cost of local transportmotorway services. * In [[Brussels]]''Carrefour'' and ''Delhaize'' are more expensive options, public transport but are provided by extensively located downtown with longer opening hours (Often 20:00, but not all of them!) which will offer better prices than the [http://www.stib.be/index.htm?guest_user=guest_en STIB/MIVB]. There again you can buy a 5 or 10 journeys ticketnight stores. Note that buying your ticket inside the bus/tram costs you more. More details will be added regarding Public Transport in [[Brussels]] Belgium most shops close at 18:00 and very few shops are open on the city page itselfSundays. * In Wallonia (south), the regional bus company is [http://www.infotec.be/index.aspx?PageId=631734023237830544&Language=english TEC]

The food in the motorway services Belgium is margined relatively highfamous for its frietkoten. These are small restaurants or shacks, that sell French fries (a Belgian dish mind you! Protip: Make sure you don't call them French fries, so it is always better to but just fries. Because some will lecture you about fries not have to buy any goods therebeing french. Also in many ) and all sorts of these services, toilets are paidsnacks for relatively low prices. The cheapest supermarket in the country are '''Lidl''It's not very healthy, '''Aldi''' and '''Colruyt''', many travelling goods but for EUR 5 you can be obtain at have quite a reduced price at those supermarket such as waffles and chocolate barsbig meal which is bigger & cheaper then McD's. '''GB''' Every village has a frietkot, and '''Delhaize''' are some more expensive options but are extensively located downtown with longer opening hours which will offer better prices than the night stores, note that every city has at least one in Belgium shops are not open later than 6pmevery neighborhood.

Toilets are usually paid in most places in town, and even in Also make sure you try out the most logic places to go for that (such as McDonalds)beer. It is best to avoid Belgians have the touristic areas when looking for a free toilet most and aim at best types of beer in the less obvious places such as: Big Chain Hotel (Radisson...)world, Public buildings (Library and schools) and some cafes where you can use the toilet without being spot by the staff which might request you to pay a fee up to 50 centsoften it'll be cheaper then water or soda.

== Useful links Links ==<!-- {{nomadwiki}}* The [httphttps://enwww.wikipediafacebook.orgcom/groups/wiki467054706678994/List_of_motorways_in_Belgium List of motorways Facebook group Hitchhiking 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 don't read Dutch), with specific information about locations of gas stations, e.g. about and the [http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/A13_%28Belgi%C3%AB%29 A13/E313Netherlands].

[[Category:Western Europe]]