Family Friendly Lodging in Amsterdam? And is Arnhem worth day trip?

My daughter spent a semester at the University in Nijmegen which is just across the bridge from Arnhem. Both are quaint towns. However, I would want to make certain that I spent time in Haarlem and Den Haag before scheduling time for Arnhem or Nijmegen. We loved biking in the Netherlands and there are many bike trails around Arnhem over into Germany. Regarding lodging...have you considered a hostel for your family. The hostels in the Netherlands are very clean and family friendly. Check out www.hostelworld.com. We stayed in Den Haag and were very pleased with the lodging as well as the proximity to Amsterdam.

"Also wondering if it's worth going to Arnhem for a half day trip (Bridge Too Far fame)?" Only if you're a huge history buff, especially given that you only have two nights in Amsterdam. It's as clean and efficient a city as anywhere else in the Netherlands, but rebuilt in a completely modern style. As you may be aware, the producers couldn't even film "A Bridge to Far" in Arnhem, because the modern city looks nothing like it's 1944 appearance.

The hotel Fita is great.. Also if you have a car The Hoge Veluewe.. I know I did not spell that correctly is outside Arnhem and is fabulous. It is the National Park area and they have free bikes to ride around on or you can drive. The Van Gogh museum there is as good as the one in Am,sterdam.

The open air museum in Arnhem is one of my all time favorite European places dont miss it !!. connected with it is an art museum with world famous art ( branch of some Amsterdam museum as I recall)