Mary Ann's houseboat is wonderfully situated, nestled in a private corner of a small park. There is a drawbridge across the canal and it was fascinating to watch canal life unfold before us from the comfortable deck chairs. It is a short walk to all The Jordaan has to offer, and it's a beautiful and safe 15 minute walk to the city center/museum district. Mary Ann's houseboat provided us with a perfect point from which to explore the hustle of the city, and we were still able to return to a peaceful environment at night. It was the best of both worlds, and The Jordaan is a wonderful neighborhood filled with art and energy, well worthy of exploration in its own right.
Our only small glitch was that we expected the houseboat to include a small boat for our use on the canals, but it was being serviced when we arrived. It wasn't a big deal to rent a boat, though (we rented a lovely small craft directly from a resident as opposed to the boat rental places and we saved some money), and we had an absolutely lovely time.
I'd recommend Mary Ann's houseboat to anyone who wishes to have an experience in Amsterdam that is more authentic than a hotel in the city center. The recent renovation of the houseboat is thoughtful and modern/stylish, very comfortable and well appointed (there is even a washer and dryer). We really enjoyed our stay and look forward to the opportunity to stay there again in the future.