Disentangling processes of neighbourhood change: Towards a better understanding of upgrading and downgrading of neighbourhoods in the highly-regulated context of the Netherlands

Over recent decades, patterns of upgrading and downgrading of neighbourhoods have changed significantly in many Western cities. Many neighbourhoods have witnessed a transformation from disadvantaged areas with bad housing conditions to popular high-end neighbourhoods. Nevertheless, many neighbourhoods still face decline. This dissertation is about processes of upgrading and downgrading of neighbourhoods in the highly-regulated context of the Netherlands. The research explores the way in which processes of neighbourhood change manifest themselves, by addressing the relationship between social and physical neighbourhood change and between residential mobility and neighbourhood change. In addition, this dissertation obtains insight into the way in which the highly-regulated context of the Netherlands contributes to these processes, by addressing goals and interventions of governing actors - the national government, local governments and housing associations - in generating neighbourhood upgrading and by exploring how residents have contributed to these processes through participating in decision-making processes in neighbourhood governance.