Maastricht? I can tell you that if you fly east bound at high levels, the only reason you are on a direct is because Rhine Radar had organised it with them before hand. Big call.
Not when Maastricht just give the direct without coordinating.
Seriously. The Rhein boys and girls out east I find are very cooperative and not too restrictive at all.
As for the ones further south? They are without doubt the biggest pains in the arse I have to deal with.
I don't know why it's like that.
They might even be staffed by the same people.
As for my mentality. I sit down and find out which danger areas are active and which directs we have. From then on, every aircraft automatically gets the best direct possible which is within my control. These directs will not be given only in circumstances where it would cause a conflict or make a traffic situation difficult to deal with. And I am nothing special. Everybody I work with has this mindset.