Maastricht

From Hitchwiki
Revision as of 14:43, 13 January 2016 by Lanigiro (talk | contribs)

Earth > Europe > Western Europe > Netherlands > Limburg > Maastricht
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Maastricht
<map lat='50.84930707388861' lng='5.700874328613281' zoom='12' view='3'/>
Information
Country:
Flag of Netherlands
Netherlands
Province:
Flag Limburg.png
Limburg
Population: 117,548
Major roads: A2, A79
More info: Hitchbase
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots

Maastricht is the most southern city of the Netherlands, located in the province of Limburg.

Hitchhiking out

North towards Eindhoven (A2) E 25, east towards Heerlen, Aachen (Germany) (A79)

There was a liftershalte, a special spot for hitchhiking, at the beginning of the A2 near the soccer stadium De Geusselt (Viaductweg x N2/A2). With the upgrade of the N2 to A2 this liftershalte was removed.

Hitchhiking this direction is not always very easy. There is no obvious spot. Here are a few suggestions.

  1. (new, March 2015, temporarily). Along the N2/E25, at the southside of the traffic lights at the Scharnerweg, there is a 1.5 driving lane wide semi-asphalted area between the road and a fence around the tunnel roadworks. This zone is several hundreds of meters long along the road and is suitable for walking by the cars waiting for red light. Police would send you away, but well prepared you should not wait long for a ride.
  2. Traffic lights at west end of the Terblijterweg, where it connects with the N2/A2 motorway, close to the Geusselt football stadium. You really have to go to the traffic lights, which requires 150 meter of walking illegally along the Terblijterweg which is closed for pedestrians. Once at the traffic lights it should not take more than a few minutes to get a ride, pref. use a sign A2 or A79 / Heerlen. Personal experience of Fverhart: a good spot, police would send you away but it is unlikely that you need to wait long if you know what you're doing!
  3. Crossroad Meerssenerweg / Viaductweg where you can ask rides at the traffic lights. Personal experience of Fverhart: works but not all traffic goes the A2. Sign A2 or A79 / Heerlen can help.
  4. Just before A2-access lane Maastricht-Randwyck at the road Oeslingerbaan, on the bridge over the A2. There is a hard shoulder on the bridge on which a driver can easily stop. A sign Heerlen is recommended here if you are going there or into Germany, passing by or going to Aachen. Bus 1 and 6 (direction De Heeg) stop nearby at busstop Oeslingerbaan/Langendaal. http://goo.gl/maps/430rZ. Personal experience of Fverhart: An average wait of 20 minutes, a sign A2 or A79 / Heerlen helps. Police may send you away here. Easiest way to get on the bridge is from BP petrol station walk behind the safety rail along Oeslingerbaan.
  5. New access lane of the A2-motorway on the junction Kruisdonk, near Rothem. Drivers can stop at the access lane on a hard shoulder beside the driving lane. To get here from the city you can take bus line 59 or 159 until busstop "Kruispunt" in Rothem, then walk south along Ambyerweg / cycling path for 500 meters. Personal experience of Fverhart: despite a lot of space on the access lane waiting times are rather long. You can approach cars at the traffic light at the exit lane, many of them are crossing the road and driving up the A2. Everybody can take you to the next petrol station.


Generally, if you are heading for Germany passing by or going to Aachen you should aim for a ride to Heerlen, where you can hitchhike again on the N281 towards Aachen. Standing on the motorway junction just before Heerlen should be avoided, because it is not allowed to stand there.

Tmoon hitching out of Maastricht

East towards Gulpen (N278)

Take the bus #53 or #54 from the center towards Akersteenweg. At this bus stop you'll find a petrol station. There you can try to get a lift towards Aachen in Germany.

South towards Liege (A2) E 25

Follow the rail track from the central station out of the town in a southern direction from the backside exit (use the bridge over the rails). At the first rail/road crossing south of the station hike on over the cycling path and later, still by the side of the railway, over Gerardusweg. Follow this way until the end, thus you walk under a bridge and you will arrive at a motorway entrance on the junction named Europaplein; some hundreds of meters further on at the other side of the railway is the railway station Maastricht Randwyck. If you stand at the corner of the road across from the sign pointing at the A2/Luik (Liege) you will get a lift. Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]: it's usually easy to get a ride to Liège is you use a sign. Average wait 10 minutes, max. 30 minutes. Longer rides are not common. Petrol station between Maastricht and Liège (still in the Netherlands) is not very busy. Knowing the good spots in Liège to hitch-hike therefore is a good idea.

West towards Hasselt, Antwerpen, Leuven, Brussels (Belgian N2)

Best place towards Hasselt is at or just after the traffic lights at the crossing of Via Regia and Canteleerstraat, the first crossing after the traffic square Via Regia. Expect short rides to Veldwezelt, Mopertingen and Bilzen. You will reach the motorway at Diepenbeek or Bilzen, where you can easily get further. All the motorway access lanes in Hasselt are suitable for either Brussels or Antwerpen. Personal experience of [[User:Fverhart|Fverhart]: Average wait of about 10 minutes and you should accept every ride that takes you further on the Belgian N2. Just before Bilzen you can hitch-hike at the roundabout towards Hasselt and further into Belgium.


trash:Maastricht