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.
Hectometerpaaltjes langs de snelweg als A1 Li 13,7
Professional and public / Professioneel en Openbaar
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 Amsterdam. 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.
College / University
Hogeschool / Unikversiteit
Area
School
School
Area
Peuterspeelzaal, Kleuterschool, e.a.
Conventions / Event Centre
Congres-/Evenementencentrum
Area
RAI
Government
Overheid
Point
Draw only large ones as Area
Library
Bibliotheek
Point
{City} {location}
City Hall
Stadhuis
Area
{Municipality}
Organisation or Association
Organisatie
Point
Prison / Detention Centre
Gevangenis
Area
Courthouse
Rechtbank
Area
Cemetry
Begraafplaats
Area
Fire Station
Brandweerkazerne
Area
{City} {department}
Police Station
Politiebureau
Area
{City} {department}
Military
Militair
Area
Hospital / Urgent Care
Ziekenhuis / Spoedeisende Hulp
Area
Hospitals, First Aid Posts and other places that offer emergency aid. Use Doctor / Clinic for non-urgent medical care.
Doctor / Clinic
Dokter / Kliniek
Point
Use this category for non-urgent medical care. See for urgent medical care Hospital / Medical Care. Huisarts, Bloedbank, Fysiotherapeut, Gezondheidscentrum, Oogarts, Orthodontist, Tandarts, Verloskundigepraktijk e.a.
Offices
Kantoren
Point
Advocatenkantoor, Makelaar
Post Office
Postkantoor
Point
Religious Centre
Religieus Gebouw
Point
Churches are often well recognisable and can be drawn as Area. Kerk, Moskee, Synagoge
Playgroup / Nursery
Kinderopvang
Point
Factory / Industrial
Industrieterrein
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.
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
Use only if water itself is visually obvious to drivers on nearby roads.
River / Stream
Rivier
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.
Forest / Wood
Bos / Bomen
Area
Farm
Boerderij
Area
Farmlands should never be mapped as areas. Editors should remove farmland areas immediately.
