Some Driving Tips
Roads prefixed with "E" are designated Euroroutes. All other prefixes are those of the country concerned and will be shown that way on road signs and maps. In these direction the E-routes are shown in brackets. In the route descriptions within Germany only the national routes numbers are used.
Place names shown in brackets are the alternative Flemish or German names, e.g. Liege (French), Luik (Flemish) and Lüttich (German) are all of course Liege. Many an unwary traveller has lost half the day going round in circles as a result.
Others to look out for:
English French Flemish German
Aachen Aix-la-Chapelle Aken Aachen
Antwerp Anvers Antwerp Antwerpen
Brussells Bruxelles Brussel Brüssel
Liege Liege Luik Lüttich
Thionville Thionville Thionville Diedenhofen
Ypres Ypres Ieper Ieper
Road Conditions
Traffic generally flows faster in Europe than in the British Isles. Having said that the Police, especially in France, are very strict with speeding motorists. They seem to see foreign registration plates as a chance to set an example. On the spot fines are common and can be very expensive. Sometimes they impound the vehicle if the driver is not able to pay on the spot. The Belgians are not much better and the Netherlands Police are positively medieval. The Dutch people very sensibly threw out proposals to confiscate the cars of speeders!. If you're not experienced at travelling in Europe we'd recommend you take note of the limits and stick to them.
Germany - contrary to popular belief - has a recommended limit on all Autobahns of 130 Kmh. You may exceed this figure if there are no other signs restricting speed. There is no upper limit! The average cruising speed is about 90 mph. Many travel at speeds well in excess of this. Check mirrors carefully and make doubly sure before pulling out.
Also contrary to popular opinion the German is no longer the wonderfully considerate driver he's reputed to be. He or she is every bit as bad as his road-rage counterpart in UK.
Be aware when joining and leaving Autobahns that the slip roads are usually far tighter than those in UK, often curving right through 270° or 360° to take you rapidly to a carriageway above or below the one you've just left.
More importantly the traffic leaving the Autobahn has to cross the traffic joining the Autobahn. This piece of historical madness is probably the most dangerous aspect of the Autobahn. Approach all such junctions with caution.
Off the Autobahns most roads have priority signs - a yellow diamond on a white background. If you see these signs at the roadside it means traffic joining your road has to give way to the traffic already on the road. This is the case for most roads now. There are though still junctions in housing areas, small villages etc. where the traffic coming from the right has priority - If you don't see the yellow diamond at a junction then look out for traffic in front of you joining the road, even if your road seems to be the one going straight ahead. Traffic from the right has priority and may just drive straight out. Nearly all junctions on main roads have segregated areas for traffic turning left.Check your route carefully before setting out. There are very few roundabouts and a wrong turning can sometimes add miles to your journey not to mention a high degree of frustration.
We wish you safe journey.
If you get lost call us on: Outside Germany 0049 6507 5499 or 7103 Inside Germany 06507 5499 or 7103
** PLEASE REMEMBER:
These directions are to be treated as guidelines only. Routes can change without our knowledge. We recommend obtaining ADAC road map "Benelux" ISBN 3-87003-297-9 (In UK possibly from the AA) or the "Michelin Benelux" Map - ISBN 2-06-700407-7 Amsterdam Calais Ostend/Zeebrugge Rotterdam.
From Amsterdam (Scandinavian Seaways):
In Ijmuiden join the A9 heading for AMSTERDAM, HILVERSUM and UTRECHT.
Join the A2 (E35) towards HILVERSUM, UTRECHT and EINDHOVEN (After Utrecht it becomes E25 but is still the A2 in Holland)
Stay on the A2 all the way through Holland, passing EINDHOVEN, MAASTRICHT, until
After Maastricht, still on the A2/E25 cross into Belgium.
At the Junction of A2 & A3 join A3/E40 towards EUPEN and AACHEN
After a few Kilometres join A27/E42 for VERVIERS, MALMEDY and LUXEMBOURG.
Stay on A27 over border at St. VITH/WINTERSPELT heading for BITBURG on the A60
Stay on the A60 around Bitburg heading for Trier. At end of Autobahn road becomes B51 still heading for Trier. Look out for Welschbillig
About 10 kms after Welschbillig look out for blue signs for the Autobahn. Join Autobahn A64 followings signs for Trier. After a while the Autobahn fades into two-lane road to cross the river.
Immediately over the river look out for the blue Autobahn (A602) sign at the slip road to the right sign posted for Koblenz and Saarbrücken.
At Autobahn junction Moseltal Dreieck take the A1/48 following signs for Koblenz. Over the river again take the second exit "FÖHREN" marked "Föhren, Hetzerath, Leiwen and Bekond". This is a new exit and may not be shown on your map. At end of slip road turn left towards Leiwen.
Follow road down to the B53 which runs parallel to the Mosel. At the riverside turn left onto the B53 towards Klüsserath and Trittenheim.
In TRITTENHEIM stay on the B53 through the village and at Neumagen Bridge turn right into village, right again onto Katharinenufer which leads onto Römerstraße then follow directions on town plan.
OR cross the bridge at Trittenheim and follow the small road to Neumagen.
From Calais (P&O Stena Line, Hoverspeed)
From the Ferry Terminal take the A16 (E5) motorway direction Dunkerque & Oostende.
Over the Belgian border this joins the A18 (E40) direction Ostend (Oostende)
Approaching Ostend join the A10 (E40) for Gent and Brussells.
At Brussels follow the signs for Louvain (Leuven ) and Liege (Luik) and Join the A3 towards Aachen(Aken).
After a few Kilometres join A27/E42 for VERVIERS, MALMEDY and LUXEMBOURG.
Staying on this road cross the border into Germany (road becomes A60) and follow the signs for Bitburg.
Stay on A27 over border at St. VITH/WINTERSPELT heading for BITBURG on the A60
Stay on the A60 around Bitburg heading for Trier. At end of Autobahn road becomes B51 still heading for Trier. Look out for Welschbillig
About 10 kms after Welschbillig look out for blue signs for the Autobahn. Join Autobahn A64 followings signs for Trier. After a while the Autobahn fades into two-lane road to cross the river.
Immediately over the river look out for the blue Autobahn (A602) sign at the slip road to the right sign posted for Koblenz and Saarbrücken.
At Autobahn junction Moseltal Dreieck take the A1/48 following signs for Koblenz. Over the river again take the second exit "FÖHREN" marked "Föhren, Hetzerath, Leiwen and Bekond". This is a new exit and may not be shown on your map. At end of slip road turn left towards Leiwen.
Follow road down to the B53 which runs parallel to the Mosel. At the riverside turn left onto the B53 towards Klüsserath and Trittenheim.
In TRITTENHEIM stay on the B53 through the village and at Neumagen Bridge turn right into village, right again onto Katharinenufer which leads onto Römerstraße then follow directions on town plan.
OR cross the bridge at Trittenheim and follow the small road to Neumagen.
From Ostend/Zeebrugge (Hoverspeed/P&O North Sea Ferries)
From Zeebrugge take the road from the docks via an underpass onto a four lane carriageway signposted for Brugge and Brussels (Bruxelles). Stay on this road until you see the signs for A10 (E40) towards Gent and Brussels.
From Ostend the road out of the town leads straight onto the A10 (E40)
Stay on the A10 until the Brussels Ring Road.
At Brussels follow the signs for Louvain (Leuven), A3 Liège (Luik) and Aachen (Aken) and Verviers.
After Liège join the A27 towards Malmedy, St. Vith, Bitburg.
After a few Kilometres join A27/E42 for VERVIERS, MALMEDY and LUXEMBOURG.
Staying on this road cross the border into Germany (road becomes A60) and follow the signs for Bitburg.
Stay on A27 over border at St. VITH/WINTERSPELT heading for BITBURG on the A60
Stay on the A60 around Bitburg heading for Trier. At end of Autobahn road becomes B51 still heading for Trier. Look out for Welschbillig
About 10 kms after Welschbillig look out for blue signs for the Autobahn. Join Autobahn A64 followings signs for Trier. After a while the Autobahn fades into two-lane road to cross the river.
Immediately over the river look out for the blue Autobahn (A602) sign at the slip road to the right sign posted for Koblenz and Saarbrücken.
At Autobahn junction Moseltal Dreieck take the A1/48 following signs for Koblenz. Over the river again take the second exit "FÖHREN" marked "Föhren, Hetzerath, Leiwen and Bekond". This is a new exit and may not be shown on your map. At end of slip road turn left towards Leiwen.
Follow road down to the B53 which runs parallel to the Mosel. At the riverside turn left onto the B53 towards Klüsserath and Trittenheim.
In TRITTENHEIM stay on the B53 through the village and at Neumagen Bridge turn right into village, right again onto Katharinenufer which leads onto Römerstraße then follow directions on town plan.
OR cross the bridge at Trittenheim and follow the small road to Neumagen.
From Rotterdam (P&O North Sea Ferries)
The ship docks at Europoort which is on the coast the other side of Rotterdam, so when you leave the port follow the signs for Rotterdam A15.
At Rotterdam join the A16 towards BREDA.
After Breda take A58 TILBURG & EINDHOVEN
After Tilburg Join A2 for EINDHOVEN & MAASTRICHT.
Stay on the A2 following signs for MAASTRICHT and LIEGE (Liege may be written as Lüttich or Luik - they're all Liege)
After Maastricht and before Liege join the A3 towards Aachen, Eupen and VERVIERS.
After a few Kilometres join A27/E42 for VERVIERS, MALMEDY and LUXEMBOURG.
Staying on this road cross the border into Germany (road becomes A60) and follow the signs for BITBURG.
Stay on A27 over border at St. VITH/WINTERSPELT heading for BITBURG on the A60
Stay on the A60 around Bitburg heading for TRIER. At end of Autobahn road becomes B51 still heading for Trier. Look out for Welschbillig
About 10 kms after Welschbillig look out for blue signs for the Autobahn. Join Autobahn A64 followings signs for Trier. After a while the Autobahn fades into two-lane road to cross the river.
Immediately over the river look out for the blue Autobahn (A602) sign at the slip road to the right sign posted for Koblenz and Saarbrücken.
At Autobahn junction Moseltal Dreieck take the A1/48 following signs for Koblenz. Over the river again take the second exit "FÖHREN" marked "Föhren, Hetzerath, Leiwen and Bekond". This is a new exit and may not be shown on your map. At end of slip road turn left towards Leiwen.
Follow road down to the B53 which runs parallel to the Mosel. At the riverside turn left onto the B53 towards Klüsserath and Trittenheim.
In TRITTENHEIM stay on the B53 through the village and at Neumagen Bridge turn right into village, right again onto Katharinenufer which leads onto Römerstraße then follow directions on town plan.
OR cross the bridge at Trittenheim and follow the small road to Neumagen.
From the North
Make your own way to the A61 direction Koblenz until Ausfahrt Mayen/Mendig.
At end of slip road turn left following blue Autobahn signs for A48 TRIER.
After about 15 km join the A48 direction Trier leading onto the A1 still in direction Trier.
Take Ausfahrt Salmtal, signposted Piesport, Klausen, Salmtal. and turn left following signs for Piesport and Klausen.
At next junction turn right and immediately left for Klausen.
In Klausen turn right at T-Junction. Road curves to left before the church.
Immediately after church turn right, again signposted for Minheim & Piesport. (Very small sign on the wall opposite!)
Beware of tight hairpin bends on the descent to Piesport
In Piesport turn left onto bridge. Over bridge, follow road round to left and through village.
At roundabout (B53) turn right signposted Neumagen-Dhron 3 km.
Turn left into Neumagen-Dhron and right onto Römerstraße.
Drive at the Römerstrasse a few 100 meter and turn right into Poststrasse.
|