Background information

The project “Welcome back! What rural areas can do to re-attract young adult leavers” consists of two phases: a quantitative phase where we identify how many young adults leave and return, and what role return initiatives play in this process, and a qualitative phase into the drivers of these migration patterns.

Quantitative: Who leaves and who returns? What return initiatives already exist?

In the first phase of the research, the number and flows of leavers and returners will be identified. Next to this, the characteristics of the target group are studied, such as age and life stage at the time of departure and return, moving behaviour of family and partners, level of education, and more. Additionally, we identify regional differences in the return of young adults in the Netherlands.

To determine which policies are effective in re-attracting young adults to rural areas, return initiatives in the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark are mapped and analysed in-depth. These examples provide municipalities and rural regions with insights on how to maintain contact with leavers and how to establish a return initiative.

Qualitative: Why do leavers return or not?

In the second phase, we explore how young adult leavers and returnees perceive the return initiatives, their experiences with the initiatives, and the extent to which these initiatives influence their decision to return to their rural home region or not.

During annual workshops, researchers and Dutch policymakers from various rural regions will share insights and explore the potential need for jointly establishing a return initiative.