Klaes Molenaer was probably born around 1630 in Haarlem. In 1651 he joined the Haarlem artists guild. Klaes is thought to have been a pupil of Salomon van Ruysdael. Later, he was particularly influenced by work by Jacob van Ruisdael. In 1668 he was appointed guardian of the son of the late Jan Miense Molenaer, which suggests that the two painters were probably related. Klaes Molenaer preferred painting landscapes of the surroundings of his native city - the rivers and beaches, town and village scenes, winter landscapes and bleach fields with St Bavo's church in the background. He was buried on 31 December 1676 in the parish where he was born.