Brussels

Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel) is the capital of Belgium.

Brussels is a very international city. While still walking around in the center you might be able to spot some cars from other countries. For instance, when heading to Paris, check the French numberplates with 75 or 90-something (Paris and its suburbs).

Hitching Out

<map lat='50.815832591314226' lng='4.304065704345703' zoom='15' view='0' float='right' />

South-West towards Charleroi, Mons, Lille, Paris

On the Internationalelaan (Boulevard International) close to the motorway entrance, there is a lot of traffic and much space for cars to stop, even a gas station where you could ask people directly. To get there, take a Bus from the town center to Bollinckx.

South towards Louvain-la-Neuve, Charleroi, Namur, Luxembourg

Reach the Station "Delta" in Ixelles, Metro 1A direction Herrmann-Debroux or bus 71 to Delta. The street surrounding the University Campus is called Triomflaan (Boulevard du Triomphe) or Pleinlaan (Boulevard de la Plaine). There is also a large Texaco gas station in the curve (see map), Delta is a spot where a lot of people hitchhike, especially to Louvain-la-Neuve.

At the station 'Delta', you will notice a sign marked 'Taxistop' on the Jules Cockxstraat which is used as a carsharing start kiss'nride. Just hitch from there.

Note that the E411 starting from there head direction South to Namur, Luxembourg, Lorraine in France and Rheinland-Pfalz in Germany. Many junctions gives the chance to reach the E19 (towards Charleroi, Mons and Paris) or the E42 just north of Namur. Using a sign would ease the journey.

North or East, towards Leuven, Antwerp, Liege, Germany, Netherlands

<map lat='50.84236343136954' lng='4.386205673217773' zoom='17' view='0' float='right'/> You can easily hitch out of Brussels in direction East from downtown or more especially from the European Quarter.

The first option is to hitch at the entrance of the Tunnel located at the gate of the Jubelpark (Parc du Cinquentenaire) on the Blijde-Inkomst laan (Avenue de la Joyeuse-Entree) on the side of the 'Rond-Point Schuman' (metro access 1A/1B direction Herrmann-Debroux/Stokkel). There is a street light and a side parking just at the entrance of the tunnel, you may simply stand by the light with a sign and the cars can immediately pull to pick you. This hitching point is an easy start to go to Leuven or Liege or possibly reach the services in Leuven on the E40 or on the E314.

(Note: this spot works perfectly during business hours, but the traffic is low on Sundays or during holidays; note that it is also possible to catch a ride in direction North Antwerp from there too but a sign is required)

Hitching in

If you do not encounter a driver that goes inside the city but on the contrary takes the Ring around the city, you can ask that he pulls aside on the highway (E40) just beneath the viaduc of the Exit #7a/7b (Chaussee Romaine/Parc des Expositions/Tentoonstellingspark)(basically, the Atomium and Heysel Stadium) or at Exit #8 (Wemmel). On both exit the highway shoulder is quite large and you can immediately climb the green median towards the viaduc, also at both exit a driver as the possibility to immediately regain the highway easily.

From there, you simply have to walk towards the Expo park to join the Tram (23 - 81 - 94) or Metro (1A) stations at Koning Boudewijn or Heysel.

If you arrive from the East, you might also ask to be left at the Services along the E40 in Leuven, before arriving in Brussels, with the mean of catching a local ride that would get into town.