I'm not sure if this is still in your price range, but considering that you are going in December and depending on when, you might get a pricebreak. One place I can recommend is:

Hotel Agora (Budget/Moderate)
Singel 462 (at Koningsplein)
1017 AW Amsterdam
020/627-2200 phone
020/627-2202 fax
home.worldonline.nl/~agora
[email protected] - email
I became very fond of this small hotel. Not only was the location perfect (1 block from the Flower Market, 1 block from the Spui and 5 mins. to Leidseplein) but I had a television, phone and breakfast was included. The staff was particularly helpful and kind particularly on the day I had to leave at 6:30 am. They did all the paperwork the evening before, arranged for a cab to be waiting downstairs and left me a breakfast tray at my door. This 16 room hotel (no elevator) is a canal house, but was decorated rather eclecticly. As a reminder: I had a room facing the back, the rooms overlooking the canal (the front of the hotel) can be very noisy.

Since Amsterdam is a very popular place for people come on quick weekend trips, I would advise you book something fairly soon.

Since I'm not exactly sure what your interests are (besides the Van Gogh - which is fabulous), a good source for you to consider is www.timeout.com (go to Amsterdam). Not only do they have a lot of information re: accommodations, tourist interests, transportation etc. they also have other links to other websites. Just a suggestion to get you going.

Feel free to e-mail me directly if you should have any additional questions at: [email protected]. Good luck with your planning - Amsterdam is a very special place. Everytime I go, I have a different Amsterdam experience.