As war continues to rage in Ukraine, we focus this week on a campaign closer to home: the municipal elections on March 16. There’s rage in The Hague too as foreign affairs minister Sigrid Kaag goes AWOL in faraway Maastricht. The government brings in measures to relieve the effect of the war on living costs, but not until July. Luckily it’s wasting no time in taking down the coronavirus restrictions just as infections crank up in the wake of Carnaval. And we speak to Groningen-based journalist Andrii Degeler, who returned to his native Kharkhiv just as the Russian invasion began.

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Andrii Degeler’s account of arriving in Ukraine as the Russian invasion began

• Follow Andrii’s updates from Ukraine on Twitter

Ophef of the week: ‘Unprecedented shame’ as Kaag skips question time

Local elections

Amsterdam is a neck-and-neck race between D66 and GroenLinks

In The Hague, De Mos tops polls in a divided city

Rotterdam, a diverse port city that packs a punch

Why local parties are set to win big in the municipal elections

• Follow the DutchNews local election coverage here

News

More coronavirus rules set to be dropped despite rise in infections

Carnaval week triggers 80% surge in positive coronavirus tests

Coronavirus surge in blood donations, major impact on antibodies

Judge orders Volt to reinstate MP Nilüfer Gundogan and award damages

MPs agree to new rules on language to stop threats in debating chamber

Ministers agree to pour €2.8 bn into relieve rising costs of fuel and electricity

Ukraine war could lead to 1970s-style recession, says employers’ association

Thousands of Dutch households open their doors to Ukrainian refugees

Amsterdam secures 1000 hotel beds for Ukrainians

• Hosting organisations for refugees include Takecarebnb and sharemyhome.org

Sport

Highlights of all four Dutch clubs in action in the UEFA Conference League (AD)