Did you know that bees only live for 3 to 5 weeks? And that there can be as many as 20,000 of them in a hive?
We do, ever since our first beehive, complete with colony, was placed at B.1 by our beekeeper.
The decline in biodiversity and greenery in the city is an issue that is close to our hearts. Our buildings are located around the corner from De Nieuwe Meer and the Amsterdamse Bos, so greenery is never far away. But this is not always the case for bees. Bees can fly up to 5 kilometers away from their hive and return. So within this 5-kilometer radius, there must always be enough flowers, crops, and resting places.
Now the municipality of Amsterdam has constructed a "bee highway" in the central reservation of Johan Huizingalaan, which made it interesting for us to house a colony.
And on May 29, the time had come. Our beekeeper, who is also a queen bee breeder, came by to place the hive in a sheltered spot next to B.1. Here, the bees can find a number of flowers and plants to pollinate and are not disturbed by people or traffic.
The beekeeper has installed a brood chamber and a honey chamber in which 20,000 bees do their work.
Some of the bees (the foragers) fly out every day to pollinate flowers and convert nectar into honey. The others (the house bees) take over and place the honey in the honeycomb. They do this after feeding the eggs and themselves. The honey that ends up in the honey chamber is therefore always surplus and not needed to feed themselves.
These bees ensure that nature and crops around the B. buildings are pollinated and grow. A win for the bees and for the neighborhood.
Because there is so much to tell and show about bees, open days are organized, during which B. members can see what a beekeeper does here.
If you don't have the patience to wait, here are some frequently asked questions:
- I learned it once, but why exactly are bees important?
Bees pollinate flowers, plants, and crops. Without this pollination, they cannot grow, and some crops cannot bear fruit.
- If bees die within 3 to 5 weeks, how do they ensure that there are enough bees left in the colony?
A queen bee reproduces throughout her entire life. She makes one nuptial flight outside the hive to collect sperm from male bees, which she can use to lay eggs for the rest of her life.
- What can I do myself for the bees in my neighborhood?
Plant bee-friendly plants and flowers in your garden, on your balcony, or on your roof terrace. You can often recognize these at the garden center by a specific quality mark or sticker. Not sure? Check this link.
- Is it really true that beekeepers live longer than other people? And why?
It is said that the perfect C note (also known as the Zen note) produced by bees helps you become Zen faster and live longer.
Are you curious about the bees' habitat? Then come by for a tour.
