diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/account.py b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
index e756866a1..46ebb47b8 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/account.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
@@ -263,6 +263,17 @@ class Account(object):
         """
         return Contact(self, contact_id)
 
+    def get_blocked_contacts(self):
+        """ return a list of all blocked contacts.
+
+        :returns: list of :class:`deltachat.contact.Contact` objects.
+        """
+        dc_array = ffi.gc(
+            lib.dc_get_blocked_contacts(self._dc_context),
+            lib.dc_array_unref
+        )
+        return list(iter_array(dc_array, lambda x: Contact(self, x)))
+
     def get_contacts(self, query=None, with_self=False, only_verified=False):
         """ get a (filtered) list of contacts.
 
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/contact.py b/python/src/deltachat/contact.py
index 5571bcf13..04a7b8610 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/contact.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/contact.py
@@ -52,9 +52,17 @@ class Contact(object):
         return lib.dc_contact_is_blocked(self._dc_contact)
 
     def set_blocked(self, block=True):
-        """ Block or unblock a contact. """
+        """ [Deprecated, use block/unblock methods] Block or unblock a contact. """
         return lib.dc_block_contact(self.account._dc_context, self.id, block)
 
+    def block(self):
+        """ Block this contact. Message will not be seen/retrieved from this contact. """
+        return lib.dc_block_contact(self.account._dc_context, self.id, True)
+
+    def unblock(self):
+        """ Unblock this contact. Messages from this contact will be retrieved (again)."""
+        return lib.dc_block_contact(self.account._dc_context, self.id, False)
+
     def is_verified(self):
         """ Return True if the contact is verified. """
         return lib.dc_contact_is_verified(self._dc_contact)
diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index f14bbe032..3a8cc3c41 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -129,6 +129,20 @@ class TestOfflineContact:
         assert not contact1.is_blocked()
         assert not contact1.is_verified()
 
+    def test_get_blocked(self, acfactory):
+        ac1 = acfactory.get_configured_offline_account()
+        contact1 = ac1.create_contact("some1@example.org", name="some1")
+        contact2 = ac1.create_contact("some2@example.org", name="some2")
+        ac1.create_contact("some3@example.org", name="some3")
+        assert ac1.get_blocked_contacts() == []
+        contact1.block()
+        assert ac1.get_blocked_contacts() == [contact1]
+        contact2.block()
+        blocked = ac1.get_blocked_contacts()
+        assert len(blocked) == 2 and contact1 in blocked and contact2 in blocked
+        contact2.unblock()
+        assert ac1.get_blocked_contacts() == [contact1]
+
     def test_create_self_contact(self, acfactory):
         ac1 = acfactory.get_configured_offline_account()
         contact1 = ac1.create_contact(ac1.get_config("addr"))