He was the eldest son of John II (c. 1324 – 1378), from his first marriage to Oda of Horne (1318-1353).

In 1353, his father inherited the extensive possessions of Willem van Duvenvoorde and in the same year, he purchased the Barony of Breda from the Duke of Brabant.

Their only child was their daughter Johanna van Polanen, who married Engelbert I of Nassau in 1404.

In his 1394 will, John III also mentioned three illegitimate children: This Dutch-history-related article is a stub.

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