Dutch family of artists. The history of this family from Haarlem is confusing since there were as many as five generations with the forename Jan. A Jan Vermeer ( fl 1598–1612), whose occupation is not known, married Janneken Woutersd. Knyff, the sister of the painter Jacob Woutersz. Knyff. Their son, known as Jan Vermeer I (b Haarlem, c. 1600/1; d Haarlem, Feb 1670), was an art dealer, distiller and tobacco merchant; he is also said to have been a landscape painter, but this activity is not well documented. Two of Jan I’s sons became landscape painters, (1) Jan Vermeer II and his lesser-known brother, Isaak Vermeer (bapt Haarlem, 19 Sept 1635; d after 1665). The artistic tradition continued with the two sons of Jan II, (2) Jan Vermeer III and his brother Barent Vermeer (bapt Haarlem, 20 March 1659; d 1690–1702), a still-life painter. Yet another minor painter of the same name, usually referred to as Jan Vermeer IV ( fl 1694), is presumed to have been a descendant of the same family. ‘Van Haarlem’ is traditionally added to the surname to distinguish the family members from Johannes Vermeer of Delft.

The following members have entries:

• (1) Jan [Johannes; Johannis] Vermeer van Haarlem II [the elder]
• (2) Jan [Johan] Vermeer van Haarlem III [the younger]