Chosing Karen appartements will be a very very smart choice. You are out of the city center but so close of it at the same time. The place is cute, on the water, feels cozy, it's calm and also close of a lot of very interesting and "alternatives" places where to hang out while being in Amsterdam Noord. The best advice i could give is rent yourself a bike at NDSM ferry terminal. It will save you so much time ( and make you also able to take the ferry linking the both side of the river 24/7 and not having to go from there back home walking) when you will want to stay a bit longer into the city center but also improve and enhance your experience of Amsterdam in itself. Karen is a wonderful host, and for sure she will make her everything possible to make your stay as pleasant as possible.