This course presents and discusses various aspects of planning in the urban environment from both a scientific and a societal point of view, encompassing ideas on sustainable mobility, accessibility of services and facilities, urban green and healthy living, sustainable tourism and choice behavior, inner city transformation processes and stakeholder roles. The most current theories and research in urban systems and environmental development are addressed and related to contemporary cities' social, environmental, and ecological challenges. The development of urban plans and their juridical status is discussed, and urban planning policy in the Netherlands at the different governmental levels and the relation with Europe is presented. Urban plans at different spatial levels will be presented and discussed regarding the theories and studies dealt with in this course, and the learning material will be applied in a challenge-based learning assignment.