Does this exist?! Amsterdam seems to be soooo pricey. Don't need fancy - minimal cooking facilities and a bathroom only. 1 double bedroom + sofa bed would be okay, although two bedrooms obviously better. Kids will be 9 and 7, so don't need small-kid facilities. But don't want to be in a scary area. We've previously stayed in the Jordaan area, which is lovely but I can't find anything less than about £1000 a week in late July, when we'd be going. I don't want to use air bnb or similar unregulated providers. Not mad keen on a boat, but anyway they don't seem to be any cheaper than land-based apartments.
Or are there ways of visiting Amsterdam but staying somewhere else with good public transport connections? Like Haarlem or Leiden? The main reason is to visit Amsterdam, so I don't think it makes sense to stay in e.g. Duinrell. I found this place in the middle of nowhere home.planet.nl/~groo0301/pagina_voorhuis/Holiday_cottage.htm for a bargainaceous 500E a week, but an hour to get into Amsterdam makes it more of a country holiday.
Any tips much appreciated. Thanks!