Joannis Adrianus Nelinus Knuttel (1878–1965) was a Dutch literary and political activist.[1] He came from a latitudinarian liberal family, reading socialist literature at a young age.[1] He went to study at the university in Leiden and, becoming familiar with Marxist writings, especially those of Kautsky.[1] In 1903 he became a member of the SDAP. In 1906 he became one of the authors of the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal.[1] In 1907 he became an editor of De Sociaal-Demokraat.[2][1] Later that year he co-founded De Tribune,[3] a Marxist paper.[1] During WWII he was not involved in the resistance and during the Cold War he became increasingly estranged from the Communist Party, of which he was now a member.[1]
He was a member of the municipal council of Leiden on multiple occasions throughout his career.[1]