diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 037d278f..2542d704 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@
   when the repository does not exist. With previous versions of CrateDB, it was
   `RepositoryUnknownException`.
 
+- Contrib: Add a few SQLAlchemy patches and polyfills, which do not fit well
+  into the vanilla Python driver / SQLAlchemy dialect.
+
+
 ## 2023/06/27 0.0.0
 
 - Import "data retention" implementation from <https://github.com/crate/crate-airflow-tutorial>.
diff --git a/cratedb_toolkit/sqlalchemy/__init__.py b/cratedb_toolkit/sqlalchemy/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ebff58bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cratedb_toolkit/sqlalchemy/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+from .patch import patch_inspector
+from .polyfill import check_uniqueness_factory, polyfill_autoincrement, polyfill_refresh_after_dml, refresh_table
diff --git a/cratedb_toolkit/sqlalchemy/patch.py b/cratedb_toolkit/sqlalchemy/patch.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..78c89770
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cratedb_toolkit/sqlalchemy/patch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import typing as t
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+def patch_inspector():
+    """
+    When using `get_table_names()`, make sure the correct schema name gets used.
+
+    Apparently, SQLAlchemy does not honor the `search_path` of the engine, when
+    using the inspector?
+
+    FIXME: Bug in CrateDB SQLAlchemy dialect?
+    """
+
+    def get_effective_schema(engine: sa.Engine):
+        schema_name_raw = engine.url.query.get("schema")
+        schema_name = None
+        if isinstance(schema_name_raw, str):
+            schema_name = schema_name_raw
+        elif isinstance(schema_name_raw, tuple):
+            schema_name = schema_name_raw[0]
+        return schema_name
+
+    from crate.client.sqlalchemy.dialect import CrateDialect
+
+    get_table_names_dist = CrateDialect.get_table_names
+
+    def get_table_names(self, connection: sa.Connection, schema: t.Optional[str] = None, **kw: t.Any) -> t.List[str]:
+        if schema is None:
+            schema = get_effective_schema(connection.engine)
+        return get_table_names_dist(self, connection=connection, schema=schema, **kw)
+
+    CrateDialect.get_table_names = get_table_names  # type: ignore
diff --git a/cratedb_toolkit/sqlalchemy/polyfill.py b/cratedb_toolkit/sqlalchemy/polyfill.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..079cf4cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cratedb_toolkit/sqlalchemy/polyfill.py
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+import itertools
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from sqlalchemy.event import listen
+
+
+def polyfill_autoincrement():
+    """
+    Configure SQLAlchemy model columns with an alternative to `autoincrement=True`.
+
+    In this case, use a random identifier: Nagamani19, a short, unique,
+    non-sequential identifier based on Hashids.
+
+    TODO: Submit patch to `crate-python`, to be enabled by a
+          dialect parameter `crate_polyfill_autoincrement` or such.
+    """
+    import sqlalchemy.sql.schema as schema
+    from sqlalchemy import func
+
+    init_dist = schema.Column.__init__
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        if "autoincrement" in kwargs:
+            del kwargs["autoincrement"]
+            if "default" not in kwargs:
+                kwargs["default"] = func.now()
+        init_dist(self, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    schema.Column.__init__ = __init__  # type: ignore[method-assign]
+
+
+def check_uniqueness_factory(sa_entity, attribute_name):
+    """
+    Run a manual column value uniqueness check on a table, and raise an IntegrityError if applicable.
+
+    CrateDB does not support the UNIQUE constraint on columns. This attempts to emulate it.
+
+    TODO: Submit patch to `crate-python`, to be enabled by a
+          dialect parameter `crate_polyfill_unique` or such.
+    """
+
+    def check_uniqueness(mapper, connection, target):
+        from sqlalchemy.exc import IntegrityError
+
+        if isinstance(target, sa_entity):
+            # TODO: How to use `session.query(SqlExperiment)` here?
+            stmt = (
+                mapper.selectable.select()
+                .filter(getattr(sa_entity, attribute_name) == getattr(target, attribute_name))
+                .compile(bind=connection.engine)
+            )
+            results = connection.execute(stmt)
+            if results.rowcount > 0:
+                raise IntegrityError(
+                    statement=stmt,
+                    params=[],
+                    orig=Exception(f"DuplicateKeyException on column: {target.__tablename__}.{attribute_name}"),
+                )
+
+    return check_uniqueness
+
+
+def polyfill_refresh_after_dml(session):
+    """
+    Run `REFRESH TABLE <tablename>` after each INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE operation.
+
+    CrateDB is eventually consistent, i.e. write operations are not flushed to
+    disk immediately, so readers may see stale data. In a traditional OLTP-like
+    application, this is not applicable.
+
+    This SQLAlchemy extension makes sure that data is synchronized after each
+    operation manipulating data.
+
+    > `after_{insert,update,delete}` events only apply to the session flush operation
+    > and do not apply to the ORM DML operations described at ORM-Enabled INSERT,
+    > UPDATE, and DELETE statements. To intercept ORM DML events, use
+    > `SessionEvents.do_orm_execute().`
+    > -- https://docs.sqlalchemy.org/en/20/orm/events.html#sqlalchemy.orm.MapperEvents.after_insert
+
+    > Intercept statement executions that occur on behalf of an ORM Session object.
+    > -- https://docs.sqlalchemy.org/en/20/orm/events.html#sqlalchemy.orm.SessionEvents.do_orm_execute
+
+    > Execute after flush has completed, but before commit has been called.
+    > -- https://docs.sqlalchemy.org/en/20/orm/events.html#sqlalchemy.orm.SessionEvents.after_flush
+
+    TODO: Submit patch to `crate-python`, to be enabled by a
+          dialect parameter `crate_dml_refresh` or such.
+    """  # noqa: E501
+    listen(session, "after_flush", do_flush)
+
+
+def do_flush(session, flush_context):
+    """
+    SQLAlchemy event handler for the 'after_flush' event,
+    invoking `REFRESH TABLE` on each table which has been modified.
+    """
+    dirty_entities = itertools.chain(session.new, session.dirty, session.deleted)
+    dirty_classes = {entity.__class__ for entity in dirty_entities}
+    for class_ in dirty_classes:
+        refresh_table(session, class_)
+
+
+def refresh_table(connection, target):
+    """
+    Invoke a `REFRESH TABLE` statement.
+    """
+    sql = f"REFRESH TABLE {target.__tablename__}"
+    connection.execute(sa.text(sql))
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index d605eb84..12910646 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ dependencies = [
   "colorama<1",
   "colorlog",
   "crash",
-  "crate[sqlalchemy]",
+  "crate[sqlalchemy]>=0.34",
   "sqlalchemy>=2",
 ]
 [project.optional-dependencies]
@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ extend-exclude = [
 "tests/*" = ["S101"]  # Allow use of `assert`, and `print`.
 "examples/*" = ["T201"]  # Allow `print`
 "cratedb_toolkit/retention/cli.py" = ["T201"]  # Allow `print`
+"cratedb_toolkit/sqlalchemy/__init__.py" = ["F401"]  # Allow `module´ imported but unused
 
 [tool.setuptools.packages.find]
 namespaces = false
diff --git a/tests/sqlalchemy/__init__.py b/tests/sqlalchemy/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/tests/sqlalchemy/conftest.py b/tests/sqlalchemy/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..58b36ed5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sqlalchemy/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import pytest
+
+from cratedb_toolkit.util import DatabaseAdapter
+from tests.conftest import TESTDRIVE_DATA_SCHEMA
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def database(cratedb):
+    """
+    Provide a client database adapter, which is connected to the test database instance.
+    """
+    database_url = cratedb.get_connection_url() + "?schema=" + TESTDRIVE_DATA_SCHEMA
+    yield DatabaseAdapter(dburi=database_url)
diff --git a/tests/sqlalchemy/test_patch.py b/tests/sqlalchemy/test_patch.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1ed51552
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sqlalchemy/test_patch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+from cratedb_toolkit.sqlalchemy import patch_inspector
+from tests.conftest import TESTDRIVE_DATA_SCHEMA
+
+
+def test_inspector_vanilla(database):
+    """
+    Vanilla SQLAlchemy Inspector tests.
+    """
+    tablename = f'"{TESTDRIVE_DATA_SCHEMA}"."foobar"'
+    inspector: sa.Inspector = sa.inspect(database.engine)
+    database.run_sql(f"CREATE TABLE {tablename} AS SELECT 1")
+
+    assert inspector.has_schema(TESTDRIVE_DATA_SCHEMA) is True
+
+    table_names = inspector.get_table_names(schema=TESTDRIVE_DATA_SCHEMA)
+    assert table_names == ["foobar"]
+
+    view_names = inspector.get_view_names(schema=TESTDRIVE_DATA_SCHEMA)
+    assert view_names == []
+
+    indexes = inspector.get_indexes(tablename)
+    assert indexes == []
+
+
+def test_inspector_patched(database):
+    """
+    Patched SQLAlchemy Inspector tests.
+
+    Both MLflow and LangChain invoke `get_table_names()` without a `schema` argument.
+    This verifies that it still works, when it properly has been assigned to
+    the `?schema=` connection string URL parameter.
+    """
+    patch_inspector()
+    tablename = f'"{TESTDRIVE_DATA_SCHEMA}"."foobar"'
+    inspector: sa.Inspector = sa.inspect(database.engine)
+    database.run_sql(f"CREATE TABLE {tablename} AS SELECT 1")
+    assert inspector.has_schema(TESTDRIVE_DATA_SCHEMA) is True
+
+    table_names = inspector.get_table_names()
+    assert table_names == ["foobar"]
diff --git a/tests/sqlalchemy/test_polyfill.py b/tests/sqlalchemy/test_polyfill.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8599f4cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sqlalchemy/test_polyfill.py
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+import re
+
+import pytest
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+from cratedb_toolkit.sqlalchemy import check_uniqueness_factory, polyfill_autoincrement, polyfill_refresh_after_dml
+
+
+def get_autoincrement_model():
+    """
+    Provide a minimal SQLAlchemy model including an AUTOINCREMENT primary key.
+    """
+    Base = sa.orm.declarative_base()
+
+    class FooBar(Base):
+        """
+        Minimal SQLAlchemy model with autoincrement primary key.
+        """
+
+        __tablename__ = "foobar"
+        identifier = sa.Column(sa.BigInteger, primary_key=True, autoincrement=True)
+        foo = sa.Column(sa.String)
+
+    return FooBar
+
+
+def get_unique_model():
+    """
+    Provide a minimal SQLAlchemy model including a column with UNIQUE constraint.
+    """
+    Base = sa.orm.declarative_base()
+
+    class FooBar(Base):
+        """
+        Minimal SQLAlchemy model with UNIQUE constraint.
+        """
+
+        __tablename__ = "foobar"
+        identifier = sa.Column(sa.BigInteger, primary_key=True, default=sa.func.now())
+        name = sa.Column(sa.String, unique=True, nullable=False)
+
+    return FooBar
+
+
+def test_autoincrement_vanilla(database):
+    """
+    When using a model including an autoincrement column, and not assigning a value, CrateDB will fail.
+    """
+    FooBar = get_autoincrement_model()
+    FooBar.metadata.create_all(database.engine)
+    with sa.orm.Session(database.engine) as session:
+        session.add(FooBar(foo="bar"))
+        with pytest.raises(sa.exc.ProgrammingError) as ex:
+            session.commit()
+        assert ex.match(
+            re.escape("SQLParseException[Column `identifier` is required but is missing from the insert statement]")
+        )
+
+
+def test_autoincrement_polyfill(database):
+    """
+    When using a model including an autoincrement column, and the corresponding polyfill
+    is installed, the procedure will succeed.
+    """
+    polyfill_autoincrement()
+
+    FooBar = get_autoincrement_model()
+    FooBar.metadata.create_all(database.engine)
+    with sa.orm.Session(database.engine) as session:
+        session.add(FooBar(foo="bar"))
+        session.commit()
+
+
+def test_unique_patched(database):
+    """
+    When using a model including a column with UNIQUE constraint, the SQLAlchemy dialect will ignore it.
+    """
+    FooBar = get_unique_model()
+    FooBar.metadata.create_all(database.engine)
+
+    with sa.orm.Session(database.engine) as session:
+        session.add(FooBar(name="name-1"))
+        session.commit()
+        session.add(FooBar(name="name-1"))
+        session.commit()
+
+
+def test_unique_patched_and_active(database):
+    """
+    When using a model including a column with UNIQUE constraint, enabling the patch,
+    and activating the uniqueness check, SQLAlchemy will raise `DuplicateKeyException`
+    errors if uniqueness constraints don't hold.
+    """
+    FooBar = get_unique_model()
+    FooBar.metadata.create_all(database.engine)
+
+    # For uniqueness checks to take place, installing an event handler is needed.
+    # TODO: Maybe add to some helper function?
+    # TODO: Maybe derive from the model definition itself?
+    sa.event.listen(FooBar, "before_insert", check_uniqueness_factory(FooBar, "name"))
+
+    with sa.orm.Session(database.engine) as session:
+        polyfill_refresh_after_dml(session)
+        session.add(FooBar(name="name-1"))
+        session.commit()
+        session.add(FooBar(name="name-1"))
+        with pytest.raises(sa.exc.IntegrityError) as ex:
+            session.commit()
+        assert ex.match("DuplicateKeyException on column: foobar.name")