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A beekeeper from the Netherlands has expressed shock after his 10 beehives were set ablaze in a park in the central city of Almere, causing the loss of an approximated half a million bees.

The beekeeper mentioned that every colony contained a population of forty to sixty thousand bees, and the thought that someone could kill them was devastating.

"It is deeply painful that my 10 hives have perished," he told local broadcaster.

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

The Netherlands authorities says that over 50% of the country's 360 species of bee are at risk of dying out, as the number of bees declines globally.

The beekeeper said that police had informed him an flammable substance had been employed to ignite the hives, which were placed on wooden platforms in a forested area of the park.

Almost none of the bees survived and he said that he had little faith the arsonist would be apprehended.

Another apiarist Heleen Nieman stated on national radio that she had three hives and planned to give him one of them.

For Mr Stringer, who looked after the bees for about nine years, the incident means building a fresh hive in the park from the beginning.

But he affirms he will continue his efforts.

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