Place categories

We are currently updating the pages to include all regionally different guidelines. If you find inconsistencies, please refer to the English page. Thank you!

Place categories

Waze has several major categories, which in turn includes quite a number of sub categories. If you choose a main category within WME, you automatically get to see the sub-categories to choose from. It is also possible to directly type in a category.

The Place categories used in Waze are not always directly applicable in BeLux, for they are global categories. At this time, it is not possible to adapt these categories to local customs. If you cannot find an applicable sub category, just use the main category and add the missing category in front of the name in the alternate name field.

This overview shows the categories used for the Waze Places. For mapping guidelines, please read the page about Places.

Note that circumstances may require a different approach. The different regions use a different locking strategy (see table below). In any case, if a Place needs more protection, a higher lock level can be used.

Regional differences

Regional guidelines
	Flanders	Brussels	Wallonia	Luxembourg
lock	If a lock is required, the minimum lock level is described in the tables below.	Places may be locked at L3 or higher when considered completed. In any case, do not reduce the lock of complete POIs.	Places that are considered complete, aka contain all relevant information available, are locked to L3, to prevent unwanted edits.	Places that are considered complete, aka contain all relevant information available, are locked to L3, to prevent unwanted edits.

Categories

Parking Lot

Sub-category	Description	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Parking Lot	Always map as an Area!	Parking {Name}	2

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Car Services

Sub-category	Description	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Gas Stations	Always map as an Area of more than 500m2! Use the Brand and official name. If there is a locally different name in use, put it in alternative name field.	{ picto} + {Brand} + {Name}, e.g., Main name: ⛽️ Shell VanPé (this name can be found on the brand's website) Alternative: ⛽️ Shell Nandrain (locality name if different from the official name)	3
Garage / Automotive Shop	Technical inspection, Tire center, Independent garage, Body Shop. Official brand, choose dealer	{Brand} + {Name}
Car Wash		{Name}
Charging Stations	Essent 20kW (2)	{Provider} + {MaxPower} + ({Amount})	3

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Transportation

Sub-category	Description / Examples	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Airport	You can replace "airport" in the name with the picto ✈, but the picto should be in front	{Name}, e.g., Brussels Airport ✈ Brussels	3
Bus Station		Fl: {station name} Br, Wal & Lux: -in large cities: {station name} + ({operator}) -outside large cities: {city} + {station name} + ({operator})
Ferry Pier
Seaport / Marina / Harbor
Subway Station	Underground Station for or Metro. Put the city name in front of the station name if different	Fl: {Station Name} Br, Wal & Lux: {station name}
Train Station	e.g., Station Antwerpen	Fl: "Station" + {station name} Br, Wal & Lux: {station name} alternate name: "Station" + {station name}
Bridge	Use only to represent a named road bridge with local or navigational significance	{Name}
Tunnel		{Tunnel Name}
Taxi Station
Junction / Interchange		Junction {Name}
Rest area
Carpool spot
others / without sub category	all other POIs belonging to transportation, and not to car services. Examples:
	Car Sharing & Bike Sharing Stations	{operator} + {station name}

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Professional and public

For public buildings or services such as fire departments, town halls and the like, we write the location after the name of the building or service, e.g., Stadhuis Antwerpen. For Organisations that have several locations, specify the location after a hyphen, after the general name of the organisation, e.g., UZ leuven - campus Gasthuisberg.

Sub-category	Description / Examples	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Cemetery
City Hall	local name use	{Building/Service} {Municipality}
College / University
Conventions / Event Center
Courthouse
Doctor / Clinic	Use this category for non-urgent medical care. See for urgent medical care Hospital / Medical Care below
Embassy / Consulate
Emergency shelter
Factory / industrial
Fire department		{City} {department}
Government
Hospital / Urgent Care	Hospitals, First Aid Posts and other places that offer emergency aid. Use Doctor / Clinic for non-urgent medical care
Information point
Kindergarten
Library		{City} {location}
Military
Offices
Organization or Association
Police Station		{City} {department}
Prison / Correctional Facility
Post Office
School
Trash & Recycling facility

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Shopping and services

Sub-category	Description / Examples	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Arts and Crafts
ATM	Use the translation for ATM, followed by the brand, e.g., "Geldautomaat SNS Bank"	ATM {Brand}
Bank / Financial		{Brand}
Bookstore
Car Dealership	In case there is a gas station, use Gas Station as the primary category unless they have different opening times	{Brand} {Name}
Car rental	Rental-car facilities and returns, including at airports, should be marked as a Point with the “Rental Car” Place category. If the return location is a normal Parking Lot, then mark it with the Parking Lot category and the building with the Car Rental category
Convenience Store	like a kiosk
Currency Exchange
Department Store	like Inno
Electronics
Fashion and Clothing
Flowers
Furniture / Home Store
Gifts
Gym / Fitness
Hardware Store
Jewelry
Laundry / Dry Cleaning
Market		{City} {Location}
Music Store
Personal Care
Pet Store / Veterinarian
Pharmacy
Photography
Shopping Center
Sporting Goods
Supermarket / Grocery	Delhaize. Intermarché, Lidl	{Brand} {Location}
Swimming Pool	solely public swimming pools
Toy Store
Travel Agency

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Food and Drink

Sub-category	Description / Examples	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Bakery
Bar	Note: a "Plaza" is not a Place (in French) but a food court/food market.
Coffee shop
Dessert
Fast Food	McDonald's may include drive-thru, then draw Parking Lot Road
Food Court	Can be used for a caterer or a wholesaler
Ice Cream
Restaurant		{Name}

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Culture and Entertainment

Sub-category	Description / Examples	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Art Gallery
Casino
Club
Game Club
Movie Theater
Museum
Music Venue
Performing Arts Venue
Racing Track
Stadium / Arena
Theme Park
Theater
Tourist Attraction / Historic Site	If the place functions as a landmark it may be represented as an Area Place
Zoo / Aquarium

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Other

Sub category	Description / Examples	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Construction Site	Construction sites are not necessariliy mapped but it may be useful for editors checking roadworks under way. Ask your Country Manager in case of doubt
	General category for all landmarks you can't find an existing suitable category for; add the missing category in front of the name	{missing category} {Name}

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Lodging

Sub-category	Description / Examples	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Bed & Breakfast
Camping / Trailer Park
Cottage / Cabin
Hostel	Used for Motels and Inns in the BeLux	Ibes hotels
Hotel

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Outdoors

Sub-category	Description / Examples	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Beach
Golf Course
Park
Playground
Plaza
Pool
Promenade	Probably not used in the BeLux
Scenic Lookout / Viewpoint
Ski Area
Sports Court

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Natural features

Sub-category	Description / Examples	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Farm	Farmlands should never be mapped as areas.
Forest / Grove
Island
River / Stream	Use only if water itself is visually obvious to drivers on nearby roads. Features under approximately 20 meters wide will not be visible in the Waze app. Handy tool for drawing rivers: street to river
Sea / Lake / Pool	Use only if water itself is visually obvious to drivers on nearby roads.
Canal
Swamp / Marsh
Dam

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Missing Categories

If you cannot find a suitable category, choose the most applicable category. You can add the missing category in front of the name in the alternate name field.
Example: Butcher Sans Os

• main Waze Category: Supermarket/Grocery.
• Primary name: "Sans Os".
• alternate name: "butcher Sans Os"

Note that when the name in itself is clear enough indicative for the kind of Place (ING, Décathlon, Carrefour, etc.) there is no need to put a category in front of the name.

category	WME Category to use	Naming	Lock ≥ *
Community center	Conventions / Event center	primary: {Name} alternate: {missing category} + {Name}
Village hall	Conventions / Event center
Dentist	Doctor / Clinic
Residential care centers	Personale Care
Butcher	Supermarket/Grocery

* If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Tools

• WME Place Interface Enhancements (WMEPIE) Script adding functionality Places,such as showing the size and possibility to resize area Places, buttons to zoom and center, quick categorization, auto set address, verify link with GM, etc.

Install and description

Discussion on the forum.

• WME Split POI script This script adds a button to the WME that allows you to split or cut Places from the category Natural Features into two, keeping the specifics. Can be used for all Natural Features like Island, Sea/Lake/Pool, River/Stream, Forest/Grove, Farm, Canal, Swamp / Marsh, Dam

Description and discussion on the forum

Install

• WME Color Highlights Adds color highlighting to Places according to their status and type. Shows rivers blue in WME.

- Install

- Discussion on the forum

• WME Toolbox can select and filter Places, and show the area size. And many more other tools, see Toolbox
• Place Browser

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