diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 76f321ad..fd611f86 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 * Make online documentation optional [#476](https://github.com/NLeSC/python-template/pull/476)
 
 ### Changed
+* added value field to license options [#617](https://github.com/NLeSC/python-template/pull/617)
 * fix filename typo of githooks [#611](https://github.com/NLeSC/python-template/pull/609)
 * next_steps.md is shown as a copier message [#609](https://github.com/NLeSC/python-template/pull/609)
 * Change the default profile to 'recommended' [#598](https://github.com/NLeSC/python-template/pull/598)
diff --git a/copier/questions/essential.yml b/copier/questions/essential.yml
index 54fe971f..6bb14c7e 100644
--- a/copier/questions/essential.yml
+++ b/copier/questions/essential.yml
@@ -27,11 +27,18 @@ full_name:
 license:
   type: str
   choices:
-  - "Apache-2.0"
-  - "MIT license"
-  - "BSD license"
-  - "ISC license"
-  - "GNU General Public License v3 or later"
-  - "GNU Lesser General Public License v3 or later"
-  - "Not open source"
-  default: "Apache-2.0"
+    Apache License, Version 2.0:
+      value: Apachev2
+    MIT license:
+      value: MIT
+    BSD license:
+      value: BSD
+    ISC license:
+      value: ISC
+    GNU General Public License v3 or later:
+      value: GNUv3
+    GNU Lesser General Public License v3 or later:
+      value: GNULesserv3
+    Other (add your own license):
+      value: Other
+  default: "Apachev2"
diff --git a/template/{% if license == 'Apache-2.0' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja b/template/{% if license == 'Apachev2' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/{% if license == 'Apache-2.0' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
rename to template/{% if license == 'Apachev2' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
diff --git a/template/{% if license == 'BSD license' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja b/template/{% if license == 'BSD' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/{% if license == 'BSD license' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
rename to template/{% if license == 'BSD' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
diff --git a/template/{% if license == 'GNU Lesser General Public License v3 or later' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja b/template/{% if license == 'GNULesserv3' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/{% if license == 'GNU Lesser General Public License v3 or later' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
rename to template/{% if license == 'GNULesserv3' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
diff --git a/template/{% if license == 'GNU General Public License v3 or later' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja b/template/{% if license == 'GNUv3' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/{% if license == 'GNU General Public License v3 or later' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
rename to template/{% if license == 'GNUv3' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
diff --git a/template/{% if license == 'ISC license' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja b/template/{% if license == 'ISC' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/{% if license == 'ISC license' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
rename to template/{% if license == 'ISC' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
diff --git a/template/{% if license == 'MIT licence' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja b/template/{% if license == 'MIT' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/{% if license == 'MIT licence' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
rename to template/{% if license == 'MIT' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
diff --git a/template/{% if license == 'Not open source' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja b/template/{% if license == 'Not open source' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
deleted file mode 100644
index f816229f..00000000
--- a/template/{% if license == 'Not open source' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja	
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Not open source
diff --git a/template/{% if license == 'Other' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja b/template/{% if license == 'Other' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8716c7ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/{% if license == 'Other' %}LICENSE{% endif %}.jinja	
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Add your own license