@unpublished{theses_frw4532,
            year = {2024},
           title = {Motivations and drivers for Dutch rural youth: staying or leaving? A quantitative study in Dutch rural villages},
          author = {Dion Meester},
             url = {https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4532/},
        abstract = {Young people living in Dutch rural areas in 2024 face multiple challenges. Many young people are unable to find affordable housing, leading to a longer stay at the parental home, a decrease in the mental wellbeing of those affected. This research explores the motivations and drivers for Dutch rural youth to either stay in their respective hometowns, or migrate away from those areas. Previous research mainly focused on the people actually migrating, but not a lot has been studied about the people staying and why those people choose to stay. Through a quantitative study of 321 respondents across 106 Dutch villages, findings reveal a large percentage of those respondents wanting to stay in the rural areas they live in. Factors such as established social networks, family ties and a convivial feeling in those villages also contribute to these views. Thirdly, environmental factors like the amount of available space and nature play an important role. Challenges are there for policy makers, because a lot of young people want to stay in the rural areas they live in, but this research shows that available affordable housing is lacking. However, with 85\% of the respondents having the desire to stay in their rural areas, there lay many opportunities for rural areas to keep their youth on board and with it the liveability of those areas.}
}