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Today was the first time I cycled in Netherlands. I really enjoyed it. I cycled from Amsterdam to the North Sea and back to Amsterdam.

When I was cycling on the cycle path I became thirsty and tired and I stopped on the right side, on the grass, near the cycle path (at about 20 meters it was a fence and beyond the fence the railway lines).

I drank some water and rested a bit. When I was preparing to leave, while packing my bag back into its place on the back side of the bicycle, there was a young guy with a motor cycle (together with a girl on the same motor cycle, both wearing sun glasses) who yelled something to me in a rude way, but not in English.

He said something which in English would sound like “Heey Looozard!” I looked at him and he looked at me and made some rude signs with his hands to me.

Now I’m confused why this happened at all.

Have I done something wrong? Is it okay to stop on the grass near the cycle path? Maybe even sit down? What could I have done to avoid this?

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    "Hé luiaard !" which is Dutch and roughly translates to 'Hello, lazy bones !" probably comes closest to what you heard. And I presume that Willeke made that assumption as well, judging from her answer. Just another rude loudmouth thinking he is funny.
    – Tonny
    May 28, 2018 at 19:13
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    @Tonny the word “loser” has been assimilated by the Dutch, so possibly he simply said “hey loser” with a Dutch accent. Additionally, “luiaard” is too mild and old fashioned and/or to be shouted by some idiot on a motor cycle - it’s quite far from “street speak”.
    – 11684
    May 28, 2018 at 20:45
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    @11684 Loser isn’t used at all where I am from (Brabant). But in the big city things could be different. I admit I seldom go up north. I’m thinking he actually said “hey losert” which I have heard before, with a thick The Hague accent
    – Tonny
    May 29, 2018 at 8:06
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    @11684: But that's the point. "Luiaard" wouldn't really be swearing if it was meant jokingly (not angrily), hence why it fits with the described situation where there was no reason for anger.
    – Flater
    May 29, 2018 at 10:28
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    I'm pretty sure it was just a random idiot. They think they are tough and do it as a kind of macho behavior. Some people just like to bully people or call out people like that. And I also think he actually said "hey loser".
    – Ivo Beckers
    May 30, 2018 at 12:06

1 Answer 1

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Likely that a not funny guy tried to be funny, saying something like 'Lazy bones' not knowing or not caring you would not understand. Ignore the kind of guy wherever you go.

Unless the grass is clearly private property, or clearly grown for hay, you are alright taking a rest in it. Such a small strip between a cycle path and the railway fence is very unlikely to be private.

If it is not clear it is public property and you do not want to damage hay while growing you can wait till you find a bench or other bit that is clearly meant to have a rest.
In the Netherlands you will find quite a few 'rest' places along the bike lanes. But in nice weather using the grass is very nice. I have used it often while cycling.
(I live in the Netherlands and I have done so all my life and I cycle often.)

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