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A beekeeper from the Netherlands has voiced shock after his ten colonies were set ablaze in a park in the city of Almere, resulting in the death of an approximated half a million bees.

Harold Stringer mentioned that every colony housed 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 died," he informed regional media.

Police in Almere, which sits to the east of Amsterdam, have requested witnesses after the arson attack on Tuesday night in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They posted images of the fire on online platforms.

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

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

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

Another apiarist a local beekeeper told Dutch radio that she had three bee colonies and wanted to give him one of them.

For Mr Stringer, who looked after the colonies for about nine years, the incident means starting a new colony in the park from the beginning.

But he affirms he will not give up.

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