In order to be able to include the role of regional characteristics and spatialized forms of rurality in staying, STAYin(g)Rural employs a case study approach. Three case study regions that are recognised, within each national context, as remote or peripheral and have a history of depopulation and especially youth out-migration were selected. The selected regions are east Groningen (Netherlands), south Tyrone (Northern Ireland) and south Lower Saxony (Germany).