[alangibson]

There's even a word for it. Google Betriebsurlaub.

I get that from working with and for German, Austrian and Dutch companies in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. It's nigh on impossible to get anything done in August around here.

This doesn't apply to things like resorts and restaurants, for obvious reasons, though if that's what you're thinking of.

[xrstf]

Yeah, your first comment made it sound to me like the country shuts down (grocery stores, home improvement stores, furnite stores, banks, offices, government agencies, taxis, ...) ;-)

I found one Austrian source ( https://www.vol.at/wo-die-produktion-urlaub-macht/3314076 ) mentioning the issue and I can see how it would make sense for some industries to need some maintenance time each year.