The abbey was founded in either 1163 or 1165, either directly from Clairvaux Abbey in France, which is the more generally accepted account, or from Riddagshausen Abbey near Braunschweig, in which case Klaarkamp was of the filiation of Morimond. The abbey's daughter houses were Bloemkamp Abbey (founded c. 1190 near Bolsward), Aduard Abbey (founded 1192) and Gerka Abbey (founded 1240 in Gerkesklooster near Buitenpost). The monastery was engaged in brick production from the clay on its land, and employed hundreds of lay brothers in this work.