Johan Wilhelm Henri van Wermeskerken (22 March 1882 - 7 June 1937) was a Dutch playwright, novelist and journalist.

He is considered the most prominent comedic playwright in the literature of the Dutch East Indies.

[1] His greatest successes were plays Tropenadel (1916) and Suikerfreule (1917), both of which he later adapted into novels.

Despite criticism from literary figures such as Rob Nieuwenhuys[2] and E. du Perron,[3][4] Van Wermeskerken's short story collection Langs den gordel van smaragd (1923) was hailed as his masterpiece.

[2] His work was part of the literature event in the art competition at the 1928 Summer Olympics.