diff --git a/include/SQLiteCpp/Database.h b/include/SQLiteCpp/Database.h
index 1584a6e5..44064e76 100644
--- a/include/SQLiteCpp/Database.h
+++ b/include/SQLiteCpp/Database.h
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ class Database
     friend class Statement; // Give Statement constructor access to the mpSQLite Connection Handle
 
 public:
+    // Empty constructor
+    Database();
+
     /**
      * @brief Open the provided database UTF-8 filename.
      *
@@ -144,6 +147,17 @@ class Database
      */
     ~Database();
 
+    /**
+     * @brief Open the provided database UTF-8 filename. For use instead constructor.
+     *  Example:
+     *    Database db;
+     *    db.open("database.db3", SQLite::OPEN_READWRITE|SQLite::OPEN_CREATE)
+     */
+    void open(const char* apFilename,
+             const int   aFlags         = SQLite::OPEN_READONLY,
+             const int   aBusyTimeoutMs = 0,
+             const char* apVfs          = nullptr);
+
     /**
      * @brief Set a busy handler that sleeps for a specified amount of time when a table is locked.
      *
diff --git a/src/Database.cpp b/src/Database.cpp
index 88a35b1e..d88acead 100644
--- a/src/Database.cpp
+++ b/src/Database.cpp
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ int getLibVersionNumber() noexcept // nothrow
     return sqlite3_libversion_number();
 }
 
+// Empty constructor
+Database::Database() {}
+
 
 // Open the provided database UTF-8 filename with SQLite::OPEN_xxx provided flags.
 Database::Database(const char* apFilename,
@@ -104,6 +107,32 @@ Database::~Database()
     SQLITECPP_ASSERT(SQLITE_OK == ret, "database is locked");  // See SQLITECPP_ENABLE_ASSERT_HANDLER
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief Open the provided database UTF-8 filename. For use instead constructor.
+ *  Example:
+ *    Database db;
+ *    db.open("database.db3", SQLite::OPEN_READWRITE|SQLite::OPEN_CREATE)
+ */
+void Database::open(const char* apFilename,
+                   const int   aFlags         /* = SQLite::OPEN_READONLY*/,
+                   const int   aBusyTimeoutMs /* = 0 */,
+                   const char* apVfs          /* = nullptr*/)
+{
+    mpSQLite = nullptr;
+    mFilename = apFilename;
+    const int ret = sqlite3_open_v2(apFilename, &mpSQLite, aFlags, apVfs);
+    if (SQLITE_OK != ret)
+    {
+        const SQLite::Exception exception(mpSQLite, ret); // must create before closing
+        sqlite3_close(mpSQLite); // close is required even in case of error on opening
+        throw exception;
+    }
+    if (aBusyTimeoutMs > 0)
+    {
+        setBusyTimeout(aBusyTimeoutMs);
+    }
+}
+
 /**
  * @brief Set a busy handler that sleeps for a specified amount of time when a table is locked.
  *
diff --git a/tests/Database_test.cpp b/tests/Database_test.cpp
index b9973e3f..64925421 100644
--- a/tests/Database_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/Database_test.cpp
@@ -90,6 +90,24 @@ TEST(Database, moveConstructor)
 
 #endif
 
+TEST(Database, emptyConstructor)
+{
+    remove("test.db3");
+    {
+      // Create a new object of Database
+      SQLite::Database db;
+
+      // Open a database or create a new one
+      db.open("test.db3", SQLite::OPEN_READWRITE|SQLite::OPEN_CREATE);
+
+      // Create test table
+      EXPECT_FALSE(db.tableExists("test"));
+      db.exec("CREATE TABLE test (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, value TEXT)");
+      EXPECT_TRUE(db.tableExists("test"));
+    }
+    remove("test.db3");
+}
+
 TEST(Database, createCloseReopen)
 {
     remove("test.db3");