I should add that both are beautiful cities and you should try to spend time in each. I have visited Bruges 6 or 7 times and Ghent 3. As many have noted, staying overnight in Bruges will allow you to see the beauty of the place without the hordes of day-trippers.

One reason that laverendrye is not pedantic, is the internal and historic differences (animosities?)over which culture dominates and which language is spoken in which corner of Belgium.

@laverendrye
<<I understand the sensitivity of the Flemish to the use of "Bruges" as it is what the Walloons use, and is a reminder of the days when the Walloons and the French language were dominant. >>
This is no matter of sensitivity. Brugge is in Flanders and the only official spelling is Brugge, not Bruges. Just as Mons is in Wallonia and we call it Mons, and not Bergen which is its Dutch spelling.

There is indeed no sensitivity : Brugge is called Brugge because it is a flemish city. French dominance is long gone, mind you. There is not a normal Fmrmish who feels dominated and not a normal Walloon who wants to dominate the Flemish. There are some Flamingants (d?) who wants to dominate or split, but this is another matter.

Calling it Bruges (in English) because we are on an English forum is actually quite insensitive. Or arrogant.

Brussels doesn't exist. It is Bruxelles, or sometimes Brussel.

Do I go to la Nouvelle Orléans ? I don't think so.

It is not because some centuries ago people were stupid and couldn't use the local names that we should carry on with such nonsense.

My vote for Gent.

<<Just as Mons is in Wallonia and we call it Mons, and not Bergen which is its Dutch spelling.>>

So why do all the highway signs in Vlaanderen (I mustn't use the English term Flanders) read Bergen, with no mention of Mons? And Luik instead of Liège?

<<Calling it Bruges (in English) because we are on an English forum is actually quite insensitive. Or arrogant.

Brussels doesn't exist. It is Bruxelles, or sometimes Brussel. >>

You better have a word with the Flanders Tourism office. They seem to want to use Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent in their material:

http://www.visitflanders.com/en/?country=en_US

Of course. They want to sell.
I tell you how to be polite.
But you can argue and go on. You seem to be this kind of people who wants to have the last word.
No prob for me. I have a good opinion of US citizens and only need to look at the U.S. Helmet taken from a fallen soldier at bastogne that I have at home to remember why.

This is in no way incompatible with my finding your approach arrogant.

PS : Bergen Rijsel etc is a Belgian internal stupidity. We are not above others on this one. But don't expect Walloons to tell you where Bergen is.