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== 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:'''
== Food & Toilets ==The price of food on motorway services is relatively high, so try to stock up before leaving and note that very There are few motorway services have free public toilets. The price (usually between €0.30 around, and 0.50) sometimes includes a voucher that can you might even be used charged in the restaurantplaces like McD's. The cheapest supermarkets in It is best to avoid the country are ''Lidl'', ''Aldi'' touristic areas when looking for a free toilet and ''Colruyt''aim at the less obvious places such as big chain hotels (Radisson...), public buildings (libraries and food bought in them will be significantly cheaper than on motorway services. ''GB'' schools) and some café''Delhaize'' are more expensive optionss where you can use the toilet without being spot by the staff who might request you to pay a fee up to 50 cents, but are extensively located downtown with longer opening hours which although many 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.
__NOTOC__
[[trash:Belgium]]
[[wikipedia:Belgium]]
no edit summary
|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 ([[Wallonia]]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 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]]).
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 ==[[File: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]] (French: ''Bruxelles'', Dutch: ''Brussel''(Anvers, Antwerp)German: ''Brüssel'') * [[ArlonAntwerpen]] (French: ''Anvers'', Dutch: ''Antwerpen'', German: ''(Arlon)Anwerpen'')* [[Bruges|Brugge]] (French: ''(Bruges'', Dutch: ''Brugge'', German: ''Brügge)'')* [[BrusselsGent]] (French: ''Gand'', Dutch: ''Gent''(Bruxelles, BrusselGerman: ''Gent'')* [[Hasselt]] (''idem'')* [[GentLeuven]] (French: ''Louvain'', Dutch: ''Leuven''(Gand, Ghent)German: ''Löwen'')* [[HasseltOostende]](French: ''Ostende'', Dutch: ''Oostende'', German: ''Ostende'') * [[Liège]] (French: ''Liège'', Dutch: ''(Luik'', German: ''Lüttich)'')* [[NamurCharleroi]](''idem'')* [[Louvain-la-NeuveNamur]](French: ''Namur'', Dutch: ''Namen'', German: ''Namur'')* [[LeuvenMons]](French: ''Mons'', Dutch: ''Bergen'', German: ''Mons'')* [[OostendeArlon]] (French: ''Arlon'', Dutch: ''Aarlen'', German: ''(Ostend)Arlon'')* [[MonsLouvain-la-Neuve]] (''(Bergen)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-rail.be/main/E/index.php SNCB/NMBS] Company reaches all major cities with a regular service30 and 0. On weekends (from Friday after 19h until Sunday evening70), the return ticket is reduced by 50% which is good option for sometimes includes a weekend evasion within voucher that can be used in the countryrestaurant. The Go-Pass/Rail-Pass However, it is a 10 journeys ticket that allows you easy to go everywhere in jump over the country (borders excluded). The Go-Pass cost €50 (so 5€/journey) barrier and is for use the -26, although if you don't look too old you probably won't be asked to prove your age. The Rail-Pass, toilet for those over 26, costs €74free. The Go-Pass is a good option to go from one side of cheapest supermarkets in the country to another. The pass is valid for a year from the date of purchase. are ''Lidl'', ''Aldi''and 'Buses/Tram:'Colruyt''* In Flanders (north), the public transport company is [http://www.delijn.and food bought in them will be/ DeLijn] which completes the train significantly cheaper than on motorway services into the rural towns . ''Carrefour'' and inside the urbanised areas. It is possible to buy a 'LijnKaart' which saves you on the cost of local transport.* In [[Brussels]]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 itself.* In Wallonia (south), the regional bus company is [http://www.infotec.be/indexSundays.aspx?PageId=631734023237830544&Language=english TEC]
== 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}}
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[[Category:Belgium| ]]
[[Category:Western Europe]]
