diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 922bdcf21..bf3bf93e0 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -59,3 +59,4 @@ test/unit/run
 test/visual/run
 # cmake 
 build
+.vs
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 9cef60113..981eb75de 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,9 +11,11 @@ project(mapnik
     DESCRIPTION "Mapnik is an open source toolkit for developing mapping applications" 
     LANGUAGES CXX 
 )
-
 message(STATUS "mapnik version: ${PROJECT_VERSION}")
 
+# https://cliutils.gitlab.io/modern-cmake/chapters/features/ides.html
+set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY USE_FOLDERS ON)
+
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH} "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake")
 include(MapnikFindPackage)
 include(MapnikCopyDependencies)