To test this hypothesis, 96 stream water samples were simultaneously collected in 26 forested headwater catchments along two transects across Europe. Three size fractions (1-20 nm, >20-60 nm, >60 nm) of NNP and fine colloids were identified with Field Flow Fractionation coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry and an organic carbon detector. The results showed that NNP and fine colloids constituted between 2±5% (Si) and 53±21% (Fe; mean ± SD) of total element concentrations, indicating a substantial contribution of particles to element transport in these European streams, especially for P and Fe. The particulate contents of Fe, Al and organic C were correlated to their total element concentrations, but those of particulate Si, Mn, P and Ca were not. The fine colloidal fractions >60 nm were dominated by clay minerals across all sites. The resulting element patterns of NNP <60 nm changed from North to South Europe from Fe- to 108 Ca-dominated particles, along with associated changes in acidity, forest type and dominant lithology.