I would highly recommend Richard's place. The apartment is a stunning modern rental with high ceilings and an open floorplan, with beautiful modern furnishings and an exceptionally equipped kitchen. The dining room doors open up to a deck that is located right on a canal. The apartment is clean and uncluttered. There is a washer/dryer in the apartment. We found the apartment extremely quiet.
We were really surprised by the location - about a 3-minute walk to a major grocery store and tram stop, about 5 minutes to a fantastic shopping street (Haarlemmerdijk) where there are boutiques, many coffee shops, bakeries, and more, and within 5-7 minutes walking distance to some exceptional restaurants (BAK, Worst Wijncafe - both on the Eater 38 list).
Richard and his wife lived in the US for several years and are really familiar with the needs and preferences of American travelers. They are exceptionally friendly and helpful, yet not intrusive. They moved out of their place while we were there, but they were nearby in case we needed anything. We brought our two kids (ages 15 and 12) and felt that we had wonderful family time together versus being separated in rooms at a hotel, as we had such a large living room and kitchen to hang out in.