The project "City and society in the Low Countries, 1200-1800: space, knowledge, social capital" (IAP, VI, 32) aims at capitalizing on acquired know-how (see IAP programme V/10) and at the same time at enlarging and rejuvenating the network in order to fulfil expanded scientific goals. Available know-how on urban history in Belgium (and in the Netherlands through collaboration with a Dutch team) is brought together in order to explore three topics on urban history (ca. 1200-1800) which reflect current trends in historical research and to evaluate methodological innovation. Three research packages are analysed whose subjects emphasize the socio-cultural and spatial historical approach: (1) urban space, (2) knoledge and culture, (3) social capital (www.cityandsociety.be)