Half a Million Bees Killed in Netherlands Fire Incident.

Destroyed beehives — Harold Stringer's ten beehives were destroyed in a green space in the city of Almere.

A beekeeper from the Netherlands has expressed shock after his ten colonies were set ablaze in a public garden in the central city of Almere, causing the death of an estimated half a million bees.

Harold Stringer mentioned that every colony contained a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the idea that anyone could destroy them was horrific.

"It really hurts that my 10 hives have perished," he informed local broadcaster.

Law enforcement in Almere, located to the northeast of Amsterdam, have requested observers after the deliberate fire 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 species of bee are at risk of dying out, as the population of bees declines globally.

Mr Stringer explained that authorities had informed him an accelerant had been employed to burn the hives, which were sitting on wooden platforms in a forested area of the garden.

Almost none of the insects made it through and he noted that he had little faith the arsonist would be caught.

Fellow beekeeper Heleen Nieman stated on Dutch radio that she had three bee colonies and planned to donate a colony.

For the beekeeper, who looked after the colonies for about almost a decade, the incident means building a new colony in the area from the beginning.

But he affirms he will continue his efforts.