The work, titled "Olympia" and depicting the artist's wife nude with a giant shell lying on her stomach, was stolen in September 2009 by two armed gunmen from Magritte's former house, which is open as a museum by appointment only.
Thieves have given Rene Magritte's Olympia back after they failed to sell it on the black market.
But this week they contacted art expert Janpiet Callens to hand back the piece, which depicts the artist's wife Georgette, which no-one would buy.
It means the 1948 painting can now be returned to the tiny gallery, in the north-east suburb of Jette, which is open as a museum by appointment only.
On the day of the theft, the venue had only been open for 10 minutes when a man rang the doorbell asking if visiting hours had started.
He put a gun to the concierge's temple and ushered his accomplice inside.
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