I concur with comments about staying in the vicinity of Centraal Station. I really like the Leidseplein area, the Americain and the Marriott are in this area. I like the Hotel Vondel, a small 3-star in Vondelstraat, footsteps around the corner from the Marriott. If your wife likes B & Bs, this small hotel is a good bet, and quite reasonable. Trams come by Leidseplein every couple of minutes to transport you anywhere you care to go. This area is within walking distance of two absolute must-see sites: the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. The other "don't miss" is the Anne Frank House (go first thing in the AM to avoid lines and crowds). There is a great Pancake Bakery near AFH, their pancakes cover the whole giant plate and make a complete meal. Mmmm!