What is the name of Dracula's primary nemesis in the novel?

Abraham Van Helsing is Dracula's primary nemesis in Bram Stoker's novel. A Dutch polymath, doctor, professor, and scientist, Van Helsing is called to help when Dr John Seward cannot explain Lucy Westenra's mysterious illness.

Van Helsing becomes the intellectual and practical leader of the group hunting Dracula. He recognizes that Lucy's condition is supernatural, organizes the effort to protect Mina Harker, and explains how Dracula's powers can be weakened. The hunters locate and sterilize the boxes of earth that Dracula has distributed around London, depriving him of places where he can rest.

Popular films often portray Van Helsing chiefly as a specialized vampire hunter, but Stoker's character is broader. He is presented as an accomplished physician and scholar whose unusual knowledge allows him to connect medical symptoms with folklore and religious protections. The other men are essential allies: Arthur Holmwood, Quincey Morris, Jonathan Harker, and Seward all participate in the campaign. Still, Van Helsing is the group's strategist and central authority, making him Dracula's clearest principal opponent in the novel.