I may get 4 to 5 weeks off for the year, but it is absolutely taboo to try and take 2 of those at the same time.

Here in the Netherlands you have the right to take at least one 2 week vacation a year.

I'm in the US and I only have to take 5 consecutive business days off once a year (not clear if it's just a security thing or a law for the industry I work in), but my workplace absolutely has people take more than a week at a time. Sounds like you work in a rough industry, sorry.