Hi all, im making this trip next Calias to Maastricht Friday June 28,,, i should be arriving by shuttle from UK around 10..am. i have to get down to Maastricht, ive done my google search and the route is via Dunkirque, Ghent, Brussels ring , Lueven and on to Maastrich. Ive also been told the traffic can get really heavy in parts and may slow my journey for a few hrs ? Is there an alternative route i can take with quieter roads ?
Thank you,,,,,G
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32740 posts
That's a reasonable route. Friday will be busy whichever way you go.
You'll arrive in Coquelles rather than Calais - that is where the boats arrive.
Are you planning to stop along the way or go straight through?
If you stop you can load up on chocolate praliné.
If you go straight through you will be by Brussels around lunch time so traffic will pick up. It is always a gamble around Gent and Brussels, but I would be very surprised if even Friday on that route would add "a few hours". The whole drive is under 4 hours - in the middle of the day, if you lose an hour I'll be surprised; if you lose 2 hours I will be very surprised.
You could possible save a few minutes by staying straight at Leuven (watch the spelling) as far as Liege, but not much. If you go Gent - Antwerpen - Hasselt - Maastricht you might very well lose handfulls of time and add a lot of frustration.
Back roads will add instead of subtract time, probably.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks very much for the reply, ill probably stick to the main route as profiled by google and yourself. back roads look a little complicated and a wrong turn could cost me ,, as iv only 48 hrs in Maastricht before heading back home i'll leave those roads for another time when we visit for a longer holiday..
Thanks again
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32740 posts
If you only have 48 hours, Easyjet go there faster than you can drive.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
I would but my son needs a car load of stuff taken out to him,,, cheers.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Hello again,,, I'm having a rethink on the above route to Maastricht. Anyone ever done the Calais, Dunkirk, Lille, Mons, Liege route,, it looks a little longer, but less congested with no big city ring roads to deal with..
Thank you for any replies.