500,000 Honeybees Killed in Dutch Arson Attack.

A beekeeper from the Netherlands has voiced dismay after his 10 beehives were set ablaze in a park in the central city of Almere, resulting in the death of an estimated half a million bees.

Harold Stringer stated that each hive housed a population of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that someone could destroy them was horrific.

"It really hurts that my ten colonies have perished," he informed local broadcaster.

Police in Almere, located to the northeast of Amsterdam, have requested witnesses after the arson attack on Tuesday evening in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They posted images of the fire on social media.

The Netherlands authorities reports that more than half of the nation's 360 types of bee are at risk of extinction, as the population of bees decreases around the world.

Mr Stringer said that authorities had informed him an flammable substance had been used to ignite the hives, which were sitting on wooden platforms in a wooded part of the park.

Almost none of the bees made it through and he said that he had little faith the arsonist would be apprehended.

Another apiarist Heleen Nieman stated on Dutch radio that she had three bee colonies and planned to give him a colony.

For Mr Stringer, who looked after the bees for about almost a decade, the fire means building a new colony in the area from the beginning.

But he insists he will continue his efforts.

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