The Dutch government has signed a ‘multi-million euro’ deal with Microsoft for continued support for its Windows XP systems, according to website Webwereld.

Between 34,000 and 40,000 Dutch national government civil servants are still using computers equipped with Windows XP, even though Microsoft is ending its support for the programme this month.

All government pcs are being switched to a new system by next January. Two out of five local councils in the Netherlands are also still using XP and this deal does not cover them, news agency ANP reports.

Microsoft is stopping providing technical assistance for the 13-year-old Windows XP from April 8. This also means an end to automatic updates that help protect pcs against viruses and hackers.

Microsoft normally charges around $200 per desk top computer for its support services, Webwereld says.

The British government has signed a deal costing almost €7m to extend support for its Windows XP computers. This would indicate around 20,000 government computers still run on XP, according to British media reports.