Weird! I remember when we were having our referendum in Sweden on joining the EU (1994) how one of the main reasons to join was that we would no longer have to carry passports when travelling in Europe. Well, turns out that you don’t have to show your passport when passing the borders and custom controls, but it has to be used in many other situations which makes it impossible to travel without a passport (or similar ID card).
And now you’ll have to use it when paying entrance to museums as well!!
(I was right who voted NO in our referendum.)
I have traveled a lot in Europe over decades and have had to show passport outside airports only twice. Once when passing to the Netherlands from Germany and the second time from Italy to Slovenia.
Probably the extraordinary circumstances were controlling for drugs and illegal immigrants.