Spent New Year there back in 1999. It is a lovely town, especially at night. Best to wait until after 1st Advent, once the whole town is lit up (although they might start early for the tourists).

I spent a while there a couple of years back. There are some really good restaurants in the area around the cathedral and it's a nice place to just walk around.

I presume English is ok as it's a tourist place?

I haven't spoken French for years, the GF speaks German but I imagine the main language is Flemish. I read somewhere some tourists found they got short shrift if they tried to speak French and advise just sticking to English.

TBH I think you might do better with English, given chances are a lot of people there will speak better English than you speak French, no offence meant. If your GF has good German, that might actually be a better fallback if your French isn't good.

I've been & it was nice enough, but the smell was not pleasant.

The canals I take it?

Indeed, it was rather unpleasant. Still, it is a nice town - just brace yourself for the stench.

Watch In Bruges and visit all the places in it. That's what I did when I went with Nick Miners last year. Such a wonderful little place.
I have pics of the trip here

I read somewhere some tourists found they got short shrift if they tried to speak French and advise just sticking to English.

"Brugge" (as the locals call it) is very firmly in the Dutch half, so avoid French unless absolutely necessary.

P.S. Some locals might not be too keen on German either

Indeed, it was rather unpleasant. Still, it is a nice town - just brace yourself for the stench.