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<map lat='50.81461241998999' lng='4.41650390625' zoom='7' view='0' float='right' country='Belgium' />
== European Carpooling ''(Taxi Stop - Eurostop)'' ==[http[File://wwwNetherlands.taxistop.be Taxi Stop] is an agency that offers carpooling possibilities to drivers in destination or from jpg|thumb|right|200px|Leaving for the [[Europe|europeanNetherlands]] countries as well as passengers looking for a destination. The website is available in English (as opposed to its [[Germany|german]] equivalent) 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 ''eurostop'' and has a set rule regarding the fees which is pretty simple: registration to the service is free of charge, a passenger is simply asked to pay 3€/100km to the driver once at destination.
== Public Transport ==
Public transport is extensive and affordable to a certain point.
'''Train:'''
'''Buses/Tram:'''* In Flanders (north)There are few free public toilets around, the public transport company is [http://www.delijn.and you might even be/ DeLijn] which completes the train services into the rural towns and inside the urbanised areascharged in places like McD's. It is possible best to buy a 'LijnKaart' which saves you on avoid the cost of local transport.* 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 touristic areas when looking for a 5 or 10 journeys ticket. Note that buying your ticket inside free toilet and aim at the bus/tram costs you more. More details will be added regarding Public Transport in Brussels on the city page itself.* In Wallonia less obvious places such as big chain hotels (south), the regional bus company is [http://wwwRadisson.infotec.be/index.aspx?PageId=631734023237830544&Language=english TEC] == Food & Toilets ==The price of food on motorway services is relatively high), so try to stock up before leaving and note that very few motorway services have free toilets. The price public buildings (usually between €0.30 libraries and 0.50schools) sometimes includes a voucher that and some café's where you can be used in use the restaurant. The cheapest supermarkets in toilet without being spot by the country are ''Lidl''staff who might request you to pay a fee up to 50 cents, ''Aldi'' and ''Colruyt'', and food bought in them although many will be significantly cheaper than on motorway services. ''GB'' and ''Delhaize'' are more expensive options, but are extensively located downtown with longer opening hours which will offer better prices than allow you to use the night stores. Note that toilet if you ask them in Belgium most shops close at 18:00 and very few shops are open on Sundays.English!
There Belgium is famous for its frietkoten. These are few free public toilets aroundsmall restaurants or shacks, and that sell French fries (a Belgian dish mind you! Protip: Make sure you might even be charged in places like McDonalddon'st 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 is best to avoid the touristic areas when looking 's not very healthy, but for EUR 5 you can have quite a free toilet and aim at the less obvious places such as big chain hotels (Radissonmeal which is bigger & cheaper then McD's...)Every village has a frietkot, public buildings (libraries and schools) and some cafes where you can use the toilet without being spot by the staff who might request you to pay a fee up to 50 cents, although many will allow you to use the toilet if you ask them every city has at least one in English!every neighborhood.
Belgium is famous for its frietkotenAlso make sure you try out the beer. These are small restaurants or shacks, that sell French fries (a Belgian dish mind you!) Belgians have the most and all sorts best types of snacks for relatively low prices. It's not very healthy, but for €5 you can have quite a big meal! Every village has a frietkotbeer in the world, and every city has at least one in every neighborhoodoften it'll be cheaper then water or soda.
[[fr:Belgique]]
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[[trash:Belgium]]
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{{infobox 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 = 1011,584007,534020
|currency = Euro (€)
|hitch = {{good}} to {{very good}}<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 (WalloniaWallonie) and a tiny German speaking part in the East. [[Brussels]], the country and european European 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 in general fairly easy, and , due to the high number of foreigners working in the country, 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 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 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 approach drivers in their native language. Although there is no specific way to be sure of telling what language a driver speaks, some solutions are:
Useful tip: Free use of Internet PC's in many city libraries.
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.
It is common practice to use the E-numbers for motorways, instead of A-numbers like in most countries. Even on road signs you will only find E-numbers.
== Main Cities ==[[ImageFile:NetherlandsHitchhiking-without-canoe-belgium-2013.jpg|thumb|right300px|200px|Leaving for Hitchhiking without a canoe, coming from the Post Hitchgathering 2013 in Houyet]]* [[Netherlands]]Brussels]](French: ''Bruxelles'', Dutch: ''Brussel'', German: ''Brüssel'') * [[Antwerpen]] (French: ''(Anvers'', Dutch: ''Antwerpen'', Antwerp)German: ''Anwerpen'')* [[ArlonBruges|Brugge]] (French: ''Bruges'', Dutch: ''(Arlon)Brugge'', German: ''Brügge'')* [[BruggeGent]] (French: ''Gand'', Dutch: ''Gent''(Bruges, BrüggeGerman: ''Gent'')* [[Hasselt]] (''idem'')* [[BrusselsLeuven]] (French: ''Louvain'', Dutch: ''Leuven''(Bruxelles, Brussel)German: ''Löwen'')* [[GentOostende]] (French: ''Ostende'', Dutch: ''Oostende''(Gand, Ghent)German: ''Ostende'') * [[Liège]] (French: ''Liège'', Dutch: ''(Luik'', German: ''Lüttich'')* [[Charleroi]] (''idem'')* [[Namur]](French: ''Namur'', Dutch: ''Namen'', German: ''Namur'')* [[Louvain-la-NeuveMons]](French: ''Mons'', Dutch: ''Bergen'', German: ''Mons'')* [[LeuvenArlon]](French: ''Arlon'', Dutch: ''Aarlen'', German: ''Arlon'')* [[OostendeLouvain-la-Neuve]] (''(Ostend)idem'')
== 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".
== Food & Toilets ==The Belgian train 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 ([http://wwwusually between EUR 0.b-rail30 and 0.70) sometimes includes a voucher that can be/main/E/index.php SNCB/NMBS] Company reaches all major cities with a regular serviceused in the restaurant. On weekends (from Friday after 19h until Sunday evening)However, it is easy to jump over the return ticket is reduced by 50% which is good option barrier and use the toilet for a weekend evasion within the countryfree. The Go-Pass/Rail-Pass is a 10 journeys ticket that allows you to go everywhere cheapest supermarkets in the country (borders excluded). The Go-Pass cost €45 (so 4are ''Lidl'',5€/journey) ''Aldi'' and is for the -26, although if you don't look too old you probably won't Colruyt'', and food bought in them will be asked to prove your agesignificantly cheaper than on motorway services. The Rail-Pass''Carrefour'' and ''Delhaize'' are more expensive options, for those over 26but are extensively located downtown with longer opening hours (Often 20:00, costs €71. The Go-Pass is a good option to go from one side but not all of them!) which will offer better prices than the country to anothernight stores. The pass is valid for a year from the date of purchaseNote that in Belgium most shops close at 18:00 and very few shops are open on Sundays.
== Useful links Links ==<!-- {{nomadwiki}}* The [httphttps://enwww.wikipediafacebook.orgcom/wikigroups/List_of_motorways_in_Belgium List of motorways 467054706678994/ 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 and 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/E313].* [http://www.liftpunt.tk LiftpuntNetherlands], discussion forum about hitchhiking in Dutch, also for Flandres!
{{IsIn|Western Europe}}
{{Template:Regions Belgium}}
{{Highways BE}}
{{Template:Europe/countries}}
[[Category:Belgium| ]]
[[Category:Western Europe]]
[[de:Belgien]]
[[es:Bélgica]]
[[fi:Belgia]]
[[fr:Belgique]]
[[tr:Belçika]]
