Klein-Sinaai

Klein-Sinaai is a village near the Dutch border in the Belgian municipality of Stekene in the province of East-Flanders. Until 1976 it was an independent municipality.

In Klein-Sinaai we can find remains of the Abbey of Boudelo which was a cisterciënzer-abbey. This abbey is also known as "Baudeloo" under an older spelling form.

The abbey was founded in the year 1197 when Boudewijn van Boekel (a monk from the Sint-Pieters-abbey in Ghent) installed himself in Klein-Sinaai as a hermit. In the early 13th century the abbey was recognised by the bishop of Doornik. Later in 1578 the abbey was destroyed by Calvinists from Ghent. A few years later the abbey was rebuilt, but this time in Gent itself.

In the "cultuurhistorisch museum" in Sint-Niklaas several archeologic finds of the Boudelo-abbey are on display.