He positioned himself as a potential successor of the childless Duke Reinald IV of Guelders and Jülich; however, this attempt was also unsuccessful.

His sister, Maria van Arkel married John II, Count of Egmond.

Legend doesn't explain whether she wanted to comfort him as he died, protect his corpse, or create an alliance with him.

In 1662, a play was published by J. van Paffenrode, based on research by Abraham Kemp, which suggested a romantic relationship had existed between William and Jacqueline.

This story was later used in a romantic novel entitled Jacoba en Bertha ("Jaqueline and Berta") by Jacob van Lennep.