A stolen Vincent van Gogh painting has been recovered after 3.5 years, thanks to the efforts of a Dutch art detective.

The painting, “Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring”, was stolen from the Singer Laren Museum near Amsterdam in March 2020. The thief smashed through a glass door in the middle of the night and ran out with the painting tucked under his right arm.

The painting was recovered on Monday at the home of Arthur Brand, a Dutch art detective who has been involved in the recovery of several other stolen artworks. Brand said that a man had contacted him two weeks ago and offered to return the painting.

The man, who has not been identified, said that he had nothing to do with the theft and that he wanted to return the painting because it had caused him a “massive headache.”

Brand said that he worked with the Dutch police to arrange the safe return of the painting. The painting has been returned to the Groninger Museum, from where it was on loan to the Singer Laren Museum.

The recovery of the painting is a major victory for Brand, who has been dubbed the “Indiana Jones of the Art World” for his success in recovering stolen artworks.

The painting is a relatively early work by van Gogh, dating from 1884. It is a small oil-on-paper painting that depicts a garden in Nuenen, where van Gogh lived with his parents. The painting is worth an estimated €3-6 million.