This thesis explores how intergenerational thinking can help identify and inform heritage approaches in rural landscapes in need of sustainability transitions. Although there is growing interest in the intersection of heritage and sustainability, little research is done about how intergenerational thinking can guide heritage planning in rural contexts. Through a systematic literature review, six intergenerational heritage approaches were identified and synthesized into a typology: Preserve & Protect, Shared Legacy, Heritage as Capital, Living Landscapes, Learning from Legacy, and Legacy by Design. Each approach has its own intergenerational function, vision on heritage, methods, and reflections. To validate the typology, three expert interviews were conducted in the Dutch Green Heart: a rural area under many pressures. The interviews confirmed the recognizability and usefulness of the typology in practice. It opened up conversations and supported more conscious and well-informed decision-making about heritage in rural areas undergoing sustainability transitions. Based on the findings, the typology was refined: the economically focused approach was reframed to emphasize sustainability, and Legacy by Design was removed due to overlap with other approaches. However, the study confirms the importance of integrated and multifunctional approaches in heritage planning. The research highlights that while intergenerational functions are often present, they are rarely made explicit. There remains room for a stronger and more conscious engagement with future generations in heritage thinking. This study provides a first step in exploring heritage from a more adaptive, future-oriented perspective.