Starting today Ziggo, the largest ISP in the Netherlands, and competitor XS4ALL are blocking The Pirate Bay website.

The blockade is the outcome of a legal battle with the local anti-piracy group BREIN.

Ziggo is currently redirecting users to an information page explaining why the site is no longer accesible.

In a separate press release the company states that “the blockade is easy to circumvent.” Indeed, there are hundreds of proxies that still allow users to access the torrent site, including one that was setup by the local Pirate Party.

BREIN, meanwhile, has issued requests for other ISPs to block access to The Pirate Bay as well. Or be dragged to court.

Both T-Mobile and KPN refused to do so, without a court order.

The ISPs argue that blocking websites is a threat to the open Internet, and suggest that the entertainment industry focuses on new business models instead.