Half a Million Honeybees Perish in Netherlands Arson Attack.

Destroyed beehives — Harold Stringer's 10 beehives were razed in a green space in the Dutch city of Almere.

A Dutch beekeeper has expressed shock after his 10 beehives were burned down in a park in the city of Almere, resulting in the loss of an approximated 500,000 bees.

The beekeeper stated that each hive housed a colony of forty to sixty thousand bees, and the idea that anyone could kill them was horrific.

"It is deeply painful that my 10 hives have died," he told local broadcaster.

Police in Almere, located to the northeast of Amsterdam, have requested observers after the arson attack on Tuesday evening in the city's picturesque Beatrixpark. They shared images of the fire on online platforms.

The Netherlands authorities reports that over 50% of the country's 360 types of bee are at threat of dying out, as the population of bees decreases globally.

The beekeeper explained that authorities had informed him an flammable substance had been employed to ignite the hives, which were sitting on wooden platforms in a wooded part of the garden.

Barely any of the bees survived and he noted that he had little faith the arsonist would be caught.

Another apiarist Heleen Nieman told Dutch radio that she had three bee colonies and wanted to donate a colony.

For Mr Stringer, who cared for the colonies for about nine years, the incident means building a fresh hive in the area from the beginning.

But he affirms he will continue his efforts.