Thanks everyone for your advice.
General conclusion is that it is indeed cheaper to fly all the way from the UK to AMS with KLM than it costs to get in and out of the VFR sector. So, I think Hilversum or Lelystad is calling.
Thanks again. I shall go back to just dreaming of flying in and out of big international airports in Europe pretending to be an airline captain.... well, for a month or two anyway...
