What a wonderful house! Arrived to lovely Dutch biscuits and a bottle of chanti from Donate and family in her airy, light, arty home nestled in a vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood. There was loads of information available about where to go, what to do and everything we needed to ensure we were able to make ourselves at home. Donate had organised a friend to greet us and show us round which was really thoughtful.
We tried out the local bistros and cafes recommended by Donate across from Oosterpark which had great menus, were very family friendly and oozed coolness in the Amsterdam heat. The house was really near fab, reliable public transport which meant we could also jump around the city to all the museums, parks and sights easily as well as reach the zoo and other attractions on foot.
Highlights were the Rijksmusem, catching some of the Jazz festival in Vondelpark, the Anne Frank House (worth the 2 hour queue), and just exploring the city's quirky streets. It was great to head to the house after a long days wandering rather than a hotel and let the kids play, read and rest. We had a great trip and would highly recommend to others.