500,000 Bees Perish in Dutch Fire Incident.

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

A Dutch beekeeper has expressed shock after his 10 beehives were burned down in a public garden in the city of Almere, resulting in the death of an approximated half a million bees.

Harold Stringer stated that every colony housed a population of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that anyone could destroy them was devastating.

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

Police in Almere, which sits to the northeast of Amsterdam, have appealed for witnesses after the deliberate fire on Tuesday night in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They posted images of the fire on social media.

The Dutch government reports that more than half of the nation's 360 species of bee are at threat of dying out, as the number of bees declines globally.

The beekeeper said that authorities had informed him an accelerant had been used to burn the colonies, which were placed on pallets in a forested area of the park.

Almost none of the insects survived and he noted that he had doubt the arsonist would be caught.

Another apiarist a local beekeeper stated on national radio that she had three hives and wanted to donate a colony.

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

But he affirms he will not give up.