A Dutch beekeeper has described his heartbreak after ten of his beehives were deliberately set on fire in the city of Almere, killing an estimated half a million bees. Police have launched an investigation into the arson attack, which has shocked the local community and raised concerns about threats to already vulnerable pollinator populations.
The hives, each home to around 40,000 to 60,000 bees, were kept in Almere’s Beatrixpark, a popular green space east of Amsterdam. Beekeeper Harold Stringer, who had tended to his colonies for nearly nine years, said he was devastated by the loss.
“It really hurts that my ten hives have died,” he told local broadcaster Omroep Flevoland, describing the destruction as “horrific.” Police confirmed that an accelerant had been used to ignite the wooden hives, which were placed on pallets in a secluded area of the park.
Photos posted by Almere police on social media showed smouldering remains of the apiaries and scorched ground where the colonies once thrived. Authorities have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information about suspicious activity in the park on Tuesday evening.
Stringer said barely any of the bees survived the blaze. “The idea that someone would do this intentionally is beyond comprehension,” he said, adding that he had little faith the arsonist would be caught.
Despite the loss, Stringer insists he will not give up. “I will start again from scratch,” he said. “Beekeeping is not just a hobby—it’s a way of life.”
Fellow beekeeper Heleen Nieman, speaking on Dutch radio, said she planned to donate one of her colonies to help Stringer rebuild. “We have to support each other,” she said. “Bees are essential to our environment.”
The incident comes as conservationists warn that the Netherlands’ bee populations are already under severe pressure. According to government figures, more than half of the country’s 360 native bee species are at risk of extinction, due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change.
Environmental advocates have condemned the attack as senseless and symbolic of a broader disregard for biodiversity. “Bees are crucial pollinators—losing even one hive affects local ecosystems,” said a spokesperson from the Dutch Beekeepers Association.
As the investigation continues, police are urging residents to come forward with any leads. For Stringer, however, the emotional and ecological loss will take much longer to repair.
“It’s not just bees that were burned,” he said quietly. “It’s years of care, effort, and hope.”