Half a Million Bees Killed in Netherlands Deliberate Blaze.

A Dutch beekeeper has voiced dismay after his 10 beehives were set ablaze in a park in the central city of Almere, causing the death of an estimated 500,000 bees.

The beekeeper mentioned that every colony contained a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the idea that anyone could destroy them was devastating.

"It really hurts that my ten colonies have perished," he told regional media.

Police in Almere, located to the northeast of Amsterdam, have appealed for observers after the arson attack on Tuesday evening in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They posted pictures of the blaze on social media.

The Dutch government reports that over 50% of the nation's 360 types of bee are at risk of extinction, as the number of bees declines around the world.

Mr Stringer explained that police had told him an accelerant had been used to burn the hives, which were placed on pallets 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 a local beekeeper stated on national radio that she had three bee colonies and planned to give him one of them.

For the beekeeper, 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 not give up.

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