Bruges (Brugge) is pleasant enough but Gent is better…
True. And I say that as a visitor to both (rather than a Belgian resident, as Marge is).
However, you and Mrs Macheath will enjoy Brugge. I've only been once (earlier this year – for the RvV, natch) and it's nice for a weekend mooch around. Other parts of Belgioum are easy to drive to – Gent's just down the road, and if you head a little further south to Oudenaarde, you can visit the RvV musem (possibly being served by Freddy Maertens) and understand just how close cycling is to religion in Flanders.
We stayed pretty centrally – here: http://www.hotelmaraboe.be. Nice, family run B&B. I'd take Mrs North there, and she's fussy. The friends I was with have, on a previous occasion, stayed at the Martin's Orangerie, which they recommend: http://www.martins-hotels.com/en/hotel/orangerie.
From the Miraboe, it's 5-10 mins stroll into the very centre of the city, where you'll find all the tourist trap restaurants.
As it's Belgium, and tourist central, the prices are (compared with the UK), sky high, but worth it – eat seafood (the coast is but a skip away, especially mussels. Drink as many different beers as you can – they're all wonderful.
Rather randomly, on Easter Monday, we were in search of an open chemist, and enjoying the architecture along the back streets, when we saw some people doing a city tour on Segways. Very odd.
