He was the son of John II, Lord of Arkel and his wife, Bertha van Sterkenburg.

In later years John III lost his favor of William I, Count of Hainaut to the younger, Willem van Duivenvoorde.

Mogelijk is hij op de achtergrond gedrongen door Willem van Duivenvoorde.

In that same year he named his eldest son, Sheriff of Ter Leede.

In 1324, that son succeeded him as John IV, Lord of Arkel, previously known as Jan van der Lede.