Most easy is the train. You can take the Intercity train to Oostende or Knokke/Blankenberge from the three main Brussels stations (Noord/Nord, Centraal/Central and Zuid/Midi). After leaving Brussels Zuid next stop afther half an hour is Gent-Sint-Pieters and another 20 minutes later you arrive in Bruges.
Reservation is not needed, just buy a ticket and jump on the train, there is one every half an hour all day long. Avoid the rush hours (leaving between 16:00 and 17:30 on working days). Also on sunny days these trains can be crowdy because it is the main connection to the coast. On that moments a first class ticket can be a good option.
If you rent a car, leave Brussels on the West or take the ringway to the E40 direction Gent - Brugge - Oostende. It is a 100 km ride.
Go to the trainstation
Get on the train
http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/
Ghent is 30 miles North West of Brussels
Train or Car.
Brussels Antwerp Ghent
heskey
It is approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) to drive from Brussels Airport to Ghent. The driving time usually ranges from 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic conditions.
Brussels Antwerp Ghent
Belgium
Ghent is a city in Belgium, it lies between Bruges and Brussels. It's the third biggest city in Belgium.
Belgium doesn't has real big cities. Here you have a list of the cities with the most inhabitants: Brussels - 1 million Antwerp - 470.000 Ghent - 250.000 Charleroi - 200.00 Liege - 190.00
12 heures
About 6h45 (with a change of trains at Brussels).