Detection of gamma-rays from narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1) by Fermi confirmed the presence of powerful relativistic jets in them, and thus challenged our understanding of active galactic nuclei (AGN). In the current AGN paradigm powerful relativistic jets are produced in massive elliptical galaxies with supermassive black holes. NLS1s differ from them significantly; they harbour lower mass black holes accreting at higher Eddington ratios, have preferably compact radio morphology, reside mostly in spiral galaxies, and were thought to be radio-quiet. Fermi's discovery invokes questions about the AGN evolution; what triggers and maintains the AGN activity, and what are the evolutionary lines of the different populations? It is also necessary to revise the AGN unification schemes to fit in NLS1s. They convolute the whole AGN scenario, but offer us a new look on the jet phenomena and will help us construct a more comprehensive big picture of AGN. Despite their importance, NLS1s are rather poorly studied as a class. For example, some NLS1s seem to be totally radio-silent, but a considerable fraction are radio-loud and thus probably host jets. This, along with other observational evidence, implies that they do not form a homogeneous class. However, it remains unclear what is triggering the radio loudness in some of them, but, for example, the properties of the host galaxy and the large-scale environment might play a role. Also the parent population of NLS1s remains an open question. We used various statistical methods, for example, multiwavelength correlations and principal component analysis to study a large sample of NLS1 sources. We will present the results and discuss the interplay between their properties, such as emission properties, black hole masses, large-scale environments, and their effect on radio loudness. We will also introduce the Metsähovi Radio Observatory NLS1 galaxy observing programme, which is the first one dedicated to systematical observations of NLS1s at high radio frequencies, and show some results for individual sources.