You people are not helping. :-þ
The biggest obstacle, it would seem, is budget. According to Priceline the taxes and fees alone for a return trip to Amsterdam are $322, never mind what the airline will want to charge me. I might keep an eye out for sales, or I might try flying into Frankfurt instead and taking the train...
It would also help greatly to have a free or cheap place to stay. Anybody know someone I could crash with?