Hello,

As a train newbie, would you recommend using the North or South stations in Brussels to get to Brugge? I know North is smaller and may be easier to navigate, with less tracks/platforms (but just as frequent trains to Brugge), but Midi is the central station and may be better staffed if we have questions. Which would would be better and easier to navigate for a newbie? Thanks!

Brussel Zuid is very easy to negotiate (well, I would say that, not having had any problems).
I think the main driver here will be where you are coming from, as this may determine your choice of station for you

does not matter Nord is fairly big too but less folks getting on

so potentially you'd get the better choice of seats by boarding at Nord then when many more get on at Midi (Zuid) station

PalQ, it depends on where the train is coming from...many people get off at Gare du Midi to catch a high speed train or to head out to the residential neighborhoods of Uccle, Ixelles, etc.

Personally, I have always found Nord too skeevy, shabby and at times bordering on creepy.

Midi is the most modern and straightforward of the three main stations--which is faint praise, few people would call any of them prime examples of rail station design, although Midi's high speed train wing is fine, if not attractive. Midi also has the best security--it finally became more serious about security after one too many high profile non-tourist EUrocrats were pickpocketed with a noticeable police presence and canine patrols.

Thanks for the feedback so far everyone. We'll be coming from the airport train.