An important challenge of urban regeneration lies in the development of sustainable programs improving housing and living conditions. In the Netherlands, since 1990s, creating lasting solutions is one of the basic concerns that have become part of strategies for urban regeneration. The other basic concern is an integrated approach of physical, environmental, social and economic programmes. Urban renewal and regeneration needs to respond to new conditions and adapt ever-present societal and economic changes in neighbourhoods. Based on research of regeneration programmes in the Netherlands and referring to the international debate, the paper will provide criteria for sustainability on features of urban regeneration. In this paper the main focus will be on urban design and planning, the social structure and economic structure. Following the changes in the social fabric important issues are reduction of inequalities, avoiding exclusion and displacement of disadvantaged groups as well as the safety issue. The economic features that will be considered are related to the development of economic property values due to regeneration. Evaluations of urban regeneration and renewal policies show that, partly due to physical efforts, cities have improved in the Netherlands.
