Nicolaas van der Horst or Nicolaus van der Horst was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and tapestry designer. He was courtier at the court of the governors of the Habsburg Netherlands in Brussels and given the title of Archer de la Garde. He also was a cartographer. He is now known less for his paintings than for his designs for prints published by the Antwerp printers.

Little is known about van der Horst's early life. The Flemish artist biographer Cornelis de Bie wrote in his Het Gulden Cabinet published in 1662 that van der Horst (whom de Bie refers to as Nicolaes vander Horst) was trained by Rubens. Upon completing his training he travelled through various countries where, according to de Bie, his work was highly regarded.

After returning home, he settled in Brussels, then the capital of the Habsburg Netherlands. Here he worked for the governor generals of the Habsburg Netherlands Archduke Albrecht of Austria and Isabella Clara Eugenia for whom he made many drawings. He was courtier at the court and given the title of Archer de la Garde (Archer of the Guard), a quasi-military ceremonial role.

He drew many portraits and other subjects which were engraved by prominent engravers for books and prints.

He died in 1646 in Brussels.