Schout-bij-nacht (pronounced [ˈsxʌud bɛi ˈnɑxt] ) is a naval rank of Dutch origin.

The schout-bij-nacht was responsible for ensuring that a fleet continued to sail in the prescribed order at night. The title comes from the title of the officer who replaced the admiral at night, from the Middle Low German schulthete meaning commanding official, cognate to the modern German Schultheiß, and was therefore called night commander, captain at night or schout-bij-nacht.