Database (database/database.sqlite) does not exist. Database works from artisan tinker

I created my database.sqlite file in the database folder. My .env file contents are :

DB_CONNECTION=sqlite
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=absolute\path\to\database\database.sqlite
DB_USERNAME=admin
DB_PASSWORD=

When I run php artisan tinker and DB::table('users')->get(); I get the info from the database.

My DatabaseController is:

class DatabaseController extends Controller
{
    public function main()
    {
        $users = DB::table('users')->get();

        return view('database',compact($users));
    }
}

Yet when I request /database path I get the error:

QueryException in Connection.php line 647: Database (database/database.sqlite) does not exist. (SQL: select * from "users")

via Alexandru Antochi