A method for processing a database query on a database system includes receiving the database query at the database system, determining a sequence of database operations for processing the database query, estimating a number of incoming data elements of the database system to be processed for each of the database operations, estimating a workload of a programmable integrated circuit of the database system for each of the database operations based on the estimated number of incoming data elements, assuming each of the database operations is performed in a single instantiation, selecting a number of instantiations Ni for a database operation i of the sequence of database operations based on the estimated workload of the programmable integrated circuit for the database operation i, and configuring the programmable integrated circuit to execute the determined sequence of database operations, the database operation i is instantiated Ni times.