500,000 Honeybees Perish in Netherlands Arson Attack.

Destroyed beehives — A beekeeper's ten beehives were destroyed in a green space in the Dutch city of Almere.

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

Harold Stringer stated that each hive contained a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that anyone could kill them was devastating.

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

Law enforcement 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 shared pictures of the blaze on online platforms.

The Dutch government says that over 50% of the nation's 360 species of bee are at risk of dying out, as the population of bees decreases around the world.

Mr Stringer explained that police had told him an accelerant had been employed to ignite the hives, which were placed on wooden platforms in a forested area of the garden.

Barely any of the bees made it through and he said that he had doubt the perpetrator would be apprehended.

Another apiarist Heleen Nieman told 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 starting a new colony in the park from the beginning.

But he affirms he will not give up.