332 SURVIVAL GUIDE
Getting Around Belgium
and Luxembourg
Both Belgium and Luxembourg have very effective and
reasonably priced public transport, with rail and bus
services reaching just about every place of interest. In
Belgium, the rail system is the most extensive, comple-
mented by the bus services; in Luxembourg, the rail
sys tem is more limited, but a comprehensive bus network
fills the gaps. Railways are run with great efficiency and
with the kind of pride that produces ticket-collectors
who can help passengers in three languages. However,
driving is the easiest way to see the countries at leisure.
BY CAR
Traffic jams can be a problem
in the big cities, but beyond
them, driving becomes much
less enervating. The motor-
ways are fast, well maintained,
well lit at night and toll-free.
Signposting is generally good,
but the tendency of many
municipal authorities to make
their town-centres traffic-free
can produce labyrinthine one-
way systems that are only
comprehensible to those with
local knowledge. Breakdowns
in Belgium are handled by
one of three motoring organi-
zations – Touring Club de
Belgique, Royal Automobile
Club de Belgique and Vlaamse
Automobilistenbond (in
Flanders). Luxembourg has
the Automobile Club de
Luxembourg. Major rental
agencies, including Avis,
Budget, Europcar and Hertz,
operate in both countries.
Vehicles can be rented by
anyone who is at least 21
years of age (in some cases
23 or 25), has a year’s driving
experience and a credit card.
It is usually cheaper to book
a car before leaving home.
Before starting out, it is
advisable to get a full break-
down insurance cover, includ-
ing damage excess; this can
be very expensive if bought
when picking up the car.
RULES OF THE ROAD
Traffic in Luxembourg and
Belgium drives on the right.
Speed limits are 50 kph
(30 mph) in built-up areas,
120 kph (75 mph) on motor-
ways and dual-carriageways,
and 90 kph (55 mph) on other
national roads. A full licence
PARKINGIn many towns, it is possible
to park right in the city centre,
sometimes in the central
square itself, although signs
may ban this on market days.
There are usually plenty of
paying carparks close by.
Street parking often requires
paying at a coin-operated
metre. In many towns, espe-
cially in Flanders, street-parking
is free, but time-limited: a
clock-like cardboard parking
disk (available at a newsagent)
is placed on the dashboard,
showing time of arrival. Blue
signs with a rather obscure
clock image indicate where
this rule is in force, but many
do not actually show the
length of time allowed for
parking. This may vary from
30 minutes to 2 hours – it is
best to ask to be sure.from the EU, US, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand or
South Africa is acceptable, as
is an International Driving
Licence. The licence must be
carried while driving. It is also
essential to have at least third-
party insurance, and better to
have comprehensive insurance
(Green Card). Visitors are
expected to carry a first-aid kit
and a warning triangle: national
stickers must be displayed.
Drivers of UK cars need to
make sure that their head-
lights are adjusted for driving
on the right. Safety belts are
obligatory and children under
12 are not allowed to sit in
the front if there are otherseats available. Drink-driving
is illegal and is heavily penal-
ized. Mobile phones are not
permitted while driving, but
the use of “hands free” equip-
ment is allowed. In places
with tram networks, visitors
need to keep a sharp lookout
for trams, and always give
way to them.
Most roads in Belgium are
clearly marked to give priority
to the main road, but where
junctions are not so marked,
drivers coming from the right
(and turning to the right)
may pull onto the main road
without stopping. This is most
often seen in city side streets.BY TRAINBelgian National Railways are
run by the Société Nationale
des Chemins de Fer Belges
(SNCB), known in Dutch as
the Nationale MaatschappijCars and taxis threading their way
through the main streets of BrusselsA taxi parked by the curb in Luxembourg City