moving to Amsterdam in 60 lbs or less

i finally got around to looking seriously into flights into Amsterdam. i'd been checking out quotes from the cheap flight equivalents online, and it hadn't been pretty. so i hunted down a travel agent recommended to me by one of my profs.

i had put it off for so long partly because i'm not entirely sure when i'm leaving (i think right after Labour Day family camping because i don't want to miss it again! but the program i haven't yet officially been accepted into might start Labour Day - which means i'll be behind, but as i'm jumping into a program in its second year, i'll be behind anyway.)
but more so because i have very little idea of when i'm returning next summer. i had a tentative date for return, but turns out it doesn't matter. a return flight (one-year open-ended) is at least $1500 Canadian. ouch. from Detroit or Toronto.

and turns out that the cheapest flights are charter. from Toronto straight to Amsterdam (and they're not booking yet for summer 2007 - so it's a one-way - and being Dutch i can legally do that). and the travel agent found one for $500 Canadian.
wow.
just one tiny little problem. weight restrictions: 50 lbs in luggage and 10 lbs in carry-on (even with my little laptop, that's pushing it!)

but since it's the cheapest by over $200 (usd), i'm debating about being crazy enough to do it. extra weight is $7 a kilo - a little pricey. but shipping 40 lbs from Grand Rapids is only $50. and there's another prof here who asked for my help around the Free University library when he visits the Netherlands in September. i'm hoping he might be convinced to take (and have space for) a few (or a lot) of my books...

we'll see. i'm Dutch - so where i come from that means i'm stubborn and cheap. so you should know which direction i'm leaning. and i've got all summer to be resourceful (and i'm sure the packing process will make for some funny stories). besides, several hundred bucks is a huge deal - it means i can spend it on a trip when i'm in Amsterdam..