The Place categories used in Waze are not always directly applicable to the Netherlands, for they are global categories. At this time, it is not possible to adapt these categories to local customs. Waze has several major categories, which includes quite a number of subcategories.
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. If you cannot find an applicable sub-category, just use the main category.
Categories that require special handling are described briefly in this section. A complete list can be found in the table below. It also lists the keywords that can be used in the app to search for the category.
This overview shows the categories used for the Waze Places. It shows examples, lock levels and search strings (scroll to the right of the table). Also, there is an indication to the use of a Point or an Area Place. Area Places should have a minimum area size of 500 m2 (e.g., 50m x 10m) to be visible in the client's display.
For public buildings or services such as fire departments, town halls and the like, we set the location of the name after the name, 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.
Cemetery
area
City Hall
area
{Municipality}
local name use
College / University
area
Conventions / Event Center
area
Courthouse
area
Doctor / Clinic
point
Use this category for non-urgent medical care. See for urgent medical care Hospital / Medical Care
Embassy / Consulate
point
Emergency shelter
point
Factory / industrial
area
Add always to the map when it is mentioned on signs or otherwise if it is big enough to be relevant on the map.
Fire department
area
{City} {department}
Government
point
Only large ones are Area
Hospital / Urgent Care
area
Hospitals, First Aid Posts and other places that offer emergency aid. Use Doctor / Clinic for non-urgent medical care.
Information point
point
Kindergarten
point
Library
point
{City} {location}
Military
area
Offices
point
Organization or Association
point
Police Station
area
{City} {department}
Prison / Correctional Facility
area
Post Office
point
Religious Center
point
Churches are often well recognisable and can be drawn as Area
Geldautomaat SNS Bank, Geldautomaat ING Bank, Geldautomaat ABN Amro
Bank / Financial
point
{Brand}
Bookstore
point
Car Dealership
point
{Brand} {Name}
In case there is a gas station, use Gas Station as the primary category
Car rental
point
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
point
AH to Go, Kiosk
Currency Exchange
point
Department Store
point
De Bijenkorf
Electronics
point
Fashion and Clothing
point
Flowers
point
Furniture / Home Store
area
Gifts
point
Gym / Fitness
point
Hardware Store
point
Gamma, Karwei
Jewelry
point
Laundry / Dry Cleaning
point
Market
area
{City} {Location}
Music Store
point
Personal Care
point
Pet Store / Veterinarian
point
Pharmacy
point
Photography
point
Shopping Center
area
Sporting Goods
point
Supermarket / Grocery
point
{Brand} {Location}
Albert Heijn, Arkendonk, Lidl, Aldi
Swimming Pool
point
solely public swimming pools
Toy Store
point
Travel Agency
point
Food and Drink
Bakery
point
Bar
point
Note : a "Plaza" is not a Place (in French) but a food court/food market.
If the place functions as a landmark it may be represented as an Area Place.
Zoo / Aquarium
area
Other
Construction Site
area
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.
Farmlands should never be mapped as areas. Editors should remove farmland areas immediately.
Forest / Grove
area
Island
area
River / Stream
area
Use only if water itself is visually obvious to drivers on nearby roads. Do not map if not visible from nearby roads. Features under approximately 20 meters wide will not be visible in the app.
Sea / Lake / Pool
area
Use only if water itself is visually obvious to drivers on nearby roads.
