We measured dissolved and particular inorganic nitrogen and dissolved nitrous oxide concentration in the Ems estuary (Germany). The sampling campaign was conducted on two consecutive days in June 2020 (11.06.2020– 12.06.2020) on board of the German research vessel Ludwig Prandtl. Water samples were taken approximately every 20 min during ebb tide from the North Sea around the island Borkum upstream to Papenburg. The discrete water samples were used to measure dissolved inorganic nutrient, nitrate stable isotope composition, suspended particular matter (SPM) concentration, particular carbon and nitrogen content of SPM and nitrogen stable isotope composition of SPM. An onboard membrane pump provided the on-line in situ FerryBox system with water from 2 m below the surface. It continuously measured oxygen, salinity, and temperature during our cruise. A N2O analyzer coupled (Model 914-0022, Los Gatos Res. Inc., San Jose, CA, USA) with a sea water/gas equilibrator using off-axis cavity output spectroscopy continuously detected dry mole fraction of dissolved nitrous oxide along the estuary. The aims of the study were 1) to investigate spatial dynamics in nitrogen turnover processes along the Ems estuary, 2) to identify their relation to nitrous oxide production and 3) to unravel controlling factors of the nitrogen circle.