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A beekeeper from the Netherlands has voiced shock after his ten colonies were burned down in a park in the central city of Almere, causing the death of an estimated 500,000 bees.

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

"It is deeply painful that my 10 hives have perished," he told regional media.

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 scenic Beatrixpark. They shared pictures of the blaze on social media.

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

Mr Stringer explained that authorities had informed him an accelerant had been employed to ignite the hives, which were placed on pallets in a wooded part of the park.

Barely any of the insects made it through and he said that he had doubt the perpetrator would be apprehended.

Another apiarist Heleen Nieman told Dutch radio that she had three bee colonies and planned to give him a colony.

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

But he insists he will continue his efforts.

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