Two days in Antwerp

If you are interested in Rubens, I highly recommend the Cathedral of Our Lady in the historic center of Antwerp. It has 4 alterpieces by Rubens. I am not familiar with the museums you asked about.

Museum Vleeshuis closed in september 2024 for a restoration and, in planning, will re-open in 2030.

I'd like to see how the early Flemish lived

You can't see this in Antwerp. Flemish people (=Vlamingen in dutch) were the people living in the County of Flanders [The main cities were Bruges, Ghent, Ypres, Kortrijk, Tournai (until 1187), Arras (until 1191) and Lille (until 1667)].

The city of Antwerp was not part of this County, but was part of the Duchy of Brabant, river Scheldt forming the frontier.

The name Flanders for the northern Dutch-speaking half of Belgium only gradually gained acceptance after 1830, with the slow growth of the Flemish movement.

I visited Plantin-Moretus in 2023. I love it, but then I'm interested in ancient printing techniques and keeping knowledge alive during the Renaissance. I wouldn't call it a house museum; it is a business museum if you will--a place where a large printing business operated. If the subject matter interests you, it's great. If not, it would be a bust. It isn't a quick visit either.

Consider the Rocoxhuis, which unlike Rubenshuis (over-rated in my opinion), owns some art. Excellent historic interiors at the Magdenhuis (foundling home) and at the superb little art museum (they own "Mad Meg") Mayer Van den Burg. Plantin-Moretus is a UNESCO WHS, so I guess you have to go, they own a lot of Rubens works on paper. The KMSKA is a huge world-class art museum, which was just gut-renovated. They probably have 40+ Rubens paintings on show, but I haven't been there since the renovation.

See if you have time for the 100+ themed turn of the 20th Century townhouses (exteriors only) at the Cogels Osy-Lei, weather permitting.

Museum Mayer van den Bergh is also closed for renovation, re-opening in 2029. A small part of the collection, including Mad Meg, is on display at the Maagdenhuis.

Find the online museumguide for Plantin-Moretus here https://issuu.com/museastadantwerpen/docs/mpm_gb_bw

Just in case you shouldn't know, the St James' Church is also being renovated. The east side with Rubens' burial chapel is not accessible. The west side remains open to visitors.
And also open to visitors are the Saint Paul's Church and the Saint Charles Borromeo Church.

Thanks to all who responded. I learned so much! (Though not sure how I will tell our travel companion - my very proud Flemish friend - that her beloved Antwerp is not considered truly Flemish.)

As for the temporary closures of some of these museums, while disappointing, it has the added advantage of making our decisions for us. The Rocoxhuis it is, the Plantin Moretus seems a must, the Magdenhuis and what they have on view of the Mayer van den Burg. Also the Cathedral of our Lady (already on our list), and just learned from Tim about the Cogels-Osylei. If we can get there we certainly will.

A million thanks!

Cogels-Osylei lies in the neighborhood Zurenborg with its whimsical architecture, packed with impressive Art Nouveau villas and Belle Epoque mansions.
More information here https://visit.antwerpen.be/en/neighbourhood-in-the-spotlight-zurenborg

Also know tram line 11 is out of use https://www.delijn.be/en/nieuws/antwerpen-onderbreking-tramlijn-11/

Unfortunately, the Zurenborg online brochure is only available in Dutch https://assets.antwerpen.be/srv/assets/api/download/007398a2-817d-45bc-8a98-99153a1b3358/Zurenborg.pdf

Seeing how the Flemish once lived you have to go outside Antwerp to open-air Museum Bokrijk, the Volkskundemuseum in Bruges or Huis van Alijn in Ghent.

https://bokrijk.be/en
https://www.museabrugge.be/en/visit-our-museums/our-museums-and-monuments/volkskundemuseum
https://huisvanalijn.be/en

With two full days you won't have time for this, but I wouldn't be surprised you want to come back and put it on your list for a next visit to Belgium.

Because you mentioned history, I should mention that the very popular MAS [museum] absorbed the Shipping (trade) museum on one of its varied floors. The Red Star Museum is about a major shipping company. If your visit includes Sunday, the TI may sell tickets to a village that was abandoned to build the new (today's) port, and for the Art Deco-ish town hall.

Also, there used to be an elaborate "folk museum" behind a bar in the Deurne neighborhood, open for a few hours on Sunday. Access discussed here:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/belgium/march-visit-to-belgium-time-in-mechelen

If your visit includes Sunday, the TI may sell tickets to a village that was abandoned to build the new (today's) port

Don't forget to update yourself. An initial plan has been drawn up for the reconstruction of the village of Doel. There will be space for approximately 125 homes in total. Construction can begin next year. The village center of Doel 2.0 will be more compact, with car-free streets. A large visitor parking lot is planned near the old monastery. Future residents should be aware that there will be no services, such as a school or supermarket. There is also a parking lot at the Scheldemolen windmill. This is primarily intended for waterbus and ferry users. The renovation of the marina is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. A floating jetty will be built for the ferry and waterbus, accessible at both low and high tide. Renovation of the first homes will begin in 2026. New Doel residents will be able to move in starting in 2027. Work will begin around Gemeenteplein and will continue in phases. Land is also being sold to private investors. A number of iconic buildings are ideally suited for a café or B&B.